Health Walk - Thursday 12th March

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

Sheila T:  "We were treated to a chilly but sunny morning today and nineteen walkers enjoyed their walks.   Jane led the eight walkers on the longer walk with Jimmy back marking.   Margaret led the Elite group of eleven with Eileen back marking.

Photo 1 - Sheila                                                 Photo 2 - Sheila                                      Photo 3 
It was newly qualified Jane's first walk as leader.   Here she's explaining her route and the reasons for choosing it - gale force winds forecast -

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with Michael

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and Sheila clicking away

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and the sun beaming down on us

Jane led us down Snake Hill with the Elite walkers urging us to get out of the way as there were more of them than us today.

Jane turned up Bikers Hill and took us along the Cycle Path, over the M6 down to the

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Wigan Lane Car Park

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and under the ear deafening noisy tunnel with the M65 roaring overhead.

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Into the north side of the Park away from the noise

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and back into the peace and tranquility of the Park

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How many times have I said that's St. Saviour's church where I was Christened also where my Mum and Dad got married a year before I was born

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The Pond, does it have a name?

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Stag Lodge Pond?

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Leaving the pond behind

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walking towards Stag Lodge Car Park, now infamous.

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Climbing up the hill away from the closed car park

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with the trees coming alive and

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the Blackthorn in blossom

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I think these are last year's blossom having survived the winter

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Walking under the electric cables

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with cultivated daffodils under the pylon

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Having survived the roaring tunnel under the M65 we are now climbing

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up to the Bridge over the M6 with it's little posters urging us not to jump off but talk to the Samaritans instead

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Walking along the Cinder Path, those in front

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and those behind blanking out me.

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Out on to the Hall Drive

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with the daffodils coming into bloom

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not long now to wait for the glorious display of Bluebells but we are to be denied James' Walk through them.

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Cutting through the bushes and trees to cross the Car Park and back to the Visitors Centre

There's no Photo 20.    On most of the photos the main group look like a tightly knit patrol of marching soldiers up to no good

Margaret, leading the Elite walkers gave me their route: Down Snake Hill, across the Stone Bridge, up the Slope into Dog Kennel Wood, through into Gravel Hole Wood, down on to the Cycle Path, along the river, up the Slope again through the Kissing Gate into the Field, down the Steps to the Lake, round the Lake and down the Long Steps, round the Picnic area, over the Stone Bridge, back up Snake Hill to to the Visitors Centre

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 Sheila and Eileen

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