Health Walk - Thursday 20th February

Photos by Michael S, Frankie, Jim & Sheila T - Please click on photos to see a larger one

Sheila T:  "A repeating theme from those who braved the weather today.  Many thanks to leaders, backmarkers and photographers today.  Sheila led and David H backmarked twelve longer walkers and Wesley the dog. Six Elite walkers were led by Pat and back marked by Lawrence with our canine friends George and Serge."

Sheila outlined her plans and set off up the Car Park following the Elite walkers

Photo 1                                                                 Photo 2 
who shot into the Pinetum through the second Gate

Sheila carried on and entered the Pinetum higher up and walked past the Walled Orchard and followed the Elite walkers down Cardiac Hill, over the Wooden Bridge turning right

Photo 3                                                               Photo 4
following the Cycle Track.

A the junction with the path up into Gravel Hole Wood the Elite walkers waited for Sheila's group to overtake them

Photo 5 - Frankie 
Hence the profusion of photos round this spot

Photo 6 - Frankie            Photo 7 - Frankie  
There was a remarkable amount of running water around

Photo 8 - Frankie          Photo 9 - Frankie
Getting wet and cold waiting for the main group to pass

Photo 10 - Frankie      Photo 11 - Frankie
and climb up the path into the wood

Photo 12 - Jim
Water everywhere

Photo 13 - Jim                         Photo 14 - Jim                       Photo 15 - Jim
and little waterfalls everywhere

Photo 16 - Jim
The main group

Photo 17 - Frankie
disappearing at the top

Photo 18                                                                 Photo 19                                              Photo 20 
Close ups of the waterfall in photos 13,14&15

Photo 21 - Sheila                    Photo 22 - Sheila                                       Photo 23 - Sheila
Regrouping at the top ready to press on

Photo 24 - Sheila
Jimmy already moving off

Photo 25 - Sheila 
More water

Photo 26                                                             Photo 27 
Approaching the Women's Union Bridge

Photo 28                                                        Photo 29
and crossing

We left Dog Kennel Wood marching up Cam Lane to Hawks Clough but coming out of Dog Kennel Wood the Elite group walked round the Lake, down the Long Steps, along the Dam and on to the Cycle path walking along the swollen river to cross the Wooden Bridge and climb up Cardiac Hill back to the Visitors Centre.

Sheila walked on up passed the Ponderosa and down the steps into Green Wood and walked up to the top.

Photo 30 - Sheila
Descending back down to Hawks Clough,

Photo 31 - Sheila
the stream full of water,

Photo 32- Sheila                                        Photo 33 - Sheila                 Photo 34 - Sheila
the Blackthorn blossom fully out on this tree

Photo 35 - Sheila     Photo 36 - Sheila
More water before we crossed the footbridge back up to Cam Lane

Photo 37 Sheila
Down to the Kissing Gate, down the slope

Photo 38 - Sheila     Photo 39 - Sheila
avoiding the Ford, ha ha, and across the Stone Bridge to climb up Snake Hill to dry out in the Cafe.

Pat R "Short walk, Second Gate into Pinetum, down Cardiac Hill, right and up into Gravel Hole Wood, through Dog Kennel Wood round Lake, down Long Steps, along bottom of Dam, along Cycle Track to Wooden Bridge, Cardiac Hill, Pinetum, Many-Eyed Tree and climb up to café."

Today's walks (Red Main Group, Green Short Walk Option Group).  
Where there are green arrows on the red route it means the Elite walkers had followed the main >> or the main group had followed the Elite walkers >>.  similarly for the blue arrows

Compiled by Michael Swarbrick with grateful thanks to Pat, Sheila, Eileen, Jim and Margaret

Cam Lane
Cam Lane Cottage
The Chorley Walks.  
Cinder Path
Cock Cabin Wood
Cuerden Hall
Cuerden Valley's Health Walk
Lower Kem Mill
Hawksclough Farmhouse
Tree Sculpture
Park
Pinetum
Ponderosa
Visitors Centre