Last Friday's regular stroll found Sue, Graeme, Paul S and me congregating at Barnbridge Gates car park in Delamere Forest, for a 14 km circuit featuring the Sandstone Trail.
Social distancing was very briefly 'parked', for a self-timed picture on the edge of the forest.
From the same spot, we noticed that harvest time is approaching.
Forest paths led north, around the area known as the New Pale, which is a relic from Delamere's history as a hunting forest. The forest was created to protect game for the king's hunt and relied on strict forest laws enforced by the Master Forester.
In later centuries it became increasingly difficult to protect the game as forest lands gave way to agriculture. As a result, forest enclosures were built in an attempt to preserve the deer. The oval shaped New Pale is thought to have originated in this way and dates from around 1617.
Deer were finally wiped out in Delamere during the Civil War (1642 - 51), and plans to reintroduce them never came to fruition.
Recent rain / sunshine / rain / sunshine.... had caused some of the paths to be overgrown with brambles and nettles, so by the time we reached Riley Bank, we were covered in scratches and stings.
The path down from Riley Bank to join the Sandstone Trail near Ridgeway was rather more forgiving.
Beyond Ridgeway, the rest of our walk back to Barnbridge Gates followed the well signposted route of the Sandstone Trail.
On a hot day, these cows were cooling down nicely, even if they were contaminating their drinking water with effluent.
On the only significant bit of tarmac of the day, thankfully with a much needed pavement, we passed St John's, Manley, where traffic noise may sometimes distract from the sermon.
After that, the Sandstone Trail takes to narrow footpaths lined at this time of year with Rosebay and other varieties of Willowherb.
We encountered very few other people, all morning - mainly just occasional dog walkers. Even the Sandstone Trail, a National Trail that might be expected to be heavily used, had very few 'customers' today, so more scratches and stings were picked up on the narrow paths.
At the end of the path shown above, we encountered a sign...
It was lunchtime, and we had only about 3 km to go, so who could resist the temptation?
Not us.
Stonehouse Farm B&B has a few picnic tables in a giant field and served us, rather glumly it has to be said, bacon and sausage butties, pots of tea, and a soft drink and cake for Paul.
It was an excellent place to pause, and a lovely surprise on this occasion.
There followed an easy walk back along the Sandstone Trail through Delamere Forest to the well used car park. This is a mecca for mountain bikers and walkers, and parking - if you can find a space - is free.
Here's today's route - about 14 km with 200 metres ascent (ie virtually flat). [Click on the image for a clearer version.]
Next week we will meet at the same spot (10am, Friday 21 August) and follow the Sandstone Trail by way of a southerly loop, with - I'm pleased to say - a very small diversion near the end of the walk that will take us past Stonehouse Farm, though I can't promise a repeat of today's lovely weather for a picnic lunch.
Well, that was another fine outing. Thanks for coming along, everyone.
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