Thursday 24 April 2014 – Bury and Tottington

Today was the day allotted to a meeting of East Lancashire LDWA’s ‘Plodders’ – those members of the Long Distance Walkers Association who prefer not to stick their heads under their arms and bash out 20+ miles on every outing. It’s sort of unofficial, being outside the LDWA philosophy, but around twenty of us took the trouble to assemble at the Hare and Hounds in Holcombe Brook, so there must be demand for these ‘Plods’.

I chose to travel by tram to Bury and leave myself an hour and a half for the stroll up to Holcombe Brook. Metrolink put the mockers on that when the Bury tram headed unexpectedly off towards Rochdale. “Sorry, we took a wrong turning” apologised the driver. So we all got off at Monsall and headed back to Shudehill for a second attempt at getting to Bury. Passengers were pretty much resigned to the half hour delay, which is pretty routine for Metrolink.

That meant I had an hour to get to the Hare and Hounds, 8 km away. I spent the first 15 minutes supping coffee from the station cafe in the pleasant surroundings of Bury’s Unity Garden. The sculpture in the foreground depicts the River of Life, and the cherry tree was laden with blossom.

My walk to the Hare and Hounds then took place at a speed that wasn’t exactly ‘plodding’ pace. After passing Bury Ground and some nesting swans I crossed the River Irwell and headed up to Burrs Country Park, the site of much industrial archaeology, such as this stone bed of a mill steam engine.

A procession of students with adult minders was then passed during the next few km – D of E novices with big rucksacks and flapping maps. Soon after the country park, this huge weir was encountered, and a very pleasant path led alongside the river all the way to Summerseat.

The Peel Tower lords over the outskirts of Bury, it’s pictured here across the Irwell.

At Brooksbottoms a steam train surprised me as it shot out of a tunnel. Then my route took a turn to the west, through the lovely Woodhey valley (pictured top) to the Hare and Hounds.

A two hour pause in my walk to enjoy lunch with the Plodders was followed by a quick return to Bury along the disused railway line through Tottington. These entertaining sculptures are encountered shortly before arriving back at the River Irwell and the stroll into Bury.

Here’s my route – 16 km, with about 200 metres ascent, taking a relatively energetic 2 hours, plus a further 2 hours for lunch.

As regards the Plodders, a committee was formed – Don, Alan and John. I controversially (I thought) suggested some short half day Autumn walks. Hmmm, not exactly LDWA style, but I now need to suggest some dates and venues as the idea was not rejected!

Easter Monday - Lakes - Day 4

If it rained overnight I didn't notice. The morning dawned grey, with that nagging easterly wind still in evidence. The weather took on a rather resigned look.

I was off by 7.15, and a few minutes later reached Hardknott Pass. Already it was brightening up, and by the time I reached the 500+ metre top of Border End I could have sworn the sun was coming out. A few minutes later, at Hard Knott, my high point of the day, it was definitely shining, illuminating the whole of the Scafell range, as you can see from the top picture. 

A quick scamper over Yew Bank, the final summit of this little trip, soon saw me down in the Upper Esk valley. Here it was t-shirt weather, and it remained so for the rest of the day. I may have caught the sun.

An old packhorse bridge, pictured, currently serves hikers wishing to ascend Scafell from Eskdale. There were no takers for that other than a few sheep today - I only saw a couple of dog walkers, near Brotherilkeld, and a couple of farmers mending a gate, before reaching Dalegarth at around noon.

As I progressed into the valley the flora started to appear. First violets, then Wood Anemone, Lesser Celandine,  Wood Sorrel and Primroses. Pied Wagtails and Tree Creepers also  introduced themselves together with garden birds like Pigeons and Blackbirds. Further down the valley the now substantial River Esk was lined with vibrant yellow gorse bushes, and early Bluebells and large clumps of Greater Stitchwort made an appearance. The beech and other trees were busily coming into leaf. Fields were yellow with Dandelions.

A cheeseburger and chips went down well at Dalegarth, then the narrow gauge 'Ratty' train obligingly transported me and numerous other holidaymakers to Ravenglass for the 14.25 to Lancaster. Waiting on the platform it was absolutely sweltering as I made the acquaintance of the production editor of a newish upmarket magazine for road cyclists. Imaginatively called 'Cyclist'.

I was home by 6pm after a most enjoyable weekend, with special thanks to Alan and Sheila for coming along and being excellent company.

A slide show may follow - I took 247 pictures. Some editing will be needed!

Sent from Timperley

Easter Sunday - Lakes - Day 3

After another cold, calm, clear night we woke to the sight of mirror like Devoke Water. 

The others enjoyed a lie in whilst I spent the calmest and clearest hour of the day bimbling around the lake, taking in the minor summits of Seat How, Rough Crag and Water Crag, all with fine views of the Isle of Man and back to higher Lakeland peaks.

The geese, greylag I suspect, were very active in the air and on the water, as they seemed to have been all night.

By 9 o'clock we were packed up and on the good track that leads from the boathouse to the Birker Fell road, where we were to meet the other Alan if he'd managed to dispose of his B&B guests. We waited at the rendezvous point for a while before concluding that the guests had won.

Today, apart from the common birds listed yesterday, I saw plovers, stonechats and a blackcap. And probably failed to identify many more. We have all seen lizards, scurrying purposefully in the grass.

An easy track led to the start of a short but interesting ascent of Great Crag. The final few metres up this modest hill were along an unlikely looking steep grassy ramp. Rocky outcrops were avoided as we continued to the summit of Broad Crag, then a yomp over easy ground found us at the nipple like cairn at the top of Great Worm Crag. We looked for worms but all we could find were bits of sheep skeletons, a feature of this trip, picked clean. Carnivorous giant worms hereabouts?

Anyway, we now turned just north of east. Here we felt the full force of the strong, cold easterly wind that had taken an overnight breather. But the cloud that had rushed in to replace the early morning sunshine was now weakening in the face of the rising sun.

A welcome brew stop punctuated our route to White How. A most pleasant sheltered spot with excellent views looking back along our route from Black Coombe. 

White How, on the summit of which Alan and I are pictured, was the first summit of a rocky crest dominated by our next summit,  Green Crag, a Wainwright. Two couples were lunching here - the first people we'd seen all day. 

Then it was on to the lower summit of Crook Crag, before heading over to an outlier, Great Whinscale, which sports views of a coastal power station, if you look carefully. 

At this point the whiff of pork crackling in the air had a strange effect on Alan and Sheila, who rushed off in an easterly direction muttering something about being late for the gin and tonic before their Sunday dinner with Alan and Tina. I'm sure I caught the words 'wine' and 'port' in the air as they hurried away...

Kepple Crag was my own next objective, in between wrestling with waterproofs as the long predicted rain appeared to set in. Good views from a small hill. 

Then I set my sights on Harter Fell, at around 650 metres the high point of the entire trip and a hill (like many on this excursion) that I hadn't been up before. I felt a little peeved that the 400 metre ascent would be in rain. Then, after reaching the main path that would be leading Alan and Sheila to their dinner, I was attracted by some waving. Had A and S stopped for lunch where their path enters forest and mine commences the steep ascent of Harter Fell? No. "We were just being friendly" said the group of seven. We chatted whilst I paused for lunch. We were all rather surprised. The rain had stopped. In fact the weather sort of cleared, with high cloud and the easterly wind taking over for the rest of the day. Visibility wasn't great compared with this morning's clear views to the Isle of Man but hey - we were expecting rain. 

The summit of Harter Fell appeared to be a large slab of rock that towers over the trig point. It took me a while to find an easy way up the slab in the strong wind.

Then I made my way down over Demming Crag and Horsehow Crags, meandering around various rocky outcrops to my planned camping spot, which turned out to be in a marsh.

Heading further down towards Hardknott Pass I found the beginnings of a marsh lined stream that I followed westwards to a minor precipice. Just above the steep drop was a small patch of dry but sloping grass. Testing it by lying down, i soon found a body shaped area that was comfy, so the Phreerunner (pictured in situ) went up around that spot, in which I am now lying in extreme comfort, replete after another excellent meal, albeit composed principally of dried ingredients. 

It's much windier tonight, even in this sheltered spot. I'm expecting rain.

Today's stats - about 19km with 1100 metres ascent, taking around 9.5 hours.

Sent from NY 22643 01250

Easter Saturday 2014 - Lakes - Day 2

The night we spent at SD 161 968 was perfectly clear and calm. But not dark,  on account of the moon.

Great, and I was far enough from Alan's snoring not to be disturbed. Though I did endure some rather too vivid dreams.

We lay in bed as the sun warmed our tents, then breakfasted and were off at 9.20, passing the rocks of Charity Chair before arriving at the lofty summit of Stoneside Hill after ten minutes walking. 

Then, on our way to cross a minor road we met a few folk who were probably off up Black Coombe. After that we met just three people all day - fell runners on Hesk Fell - though others were seen in the distance. 

We soon discovered what would dominate the day. Fine views, especially across the central Lakeland fells from Pillar to Dow Crag, wall to wall sunshine,  and a cold easterly wind that required at least two layers of clothing all day. 

We strolled during the course of our eight hour walk, over Great Paddy Crag, Kinmont Buck Barrow,  Buck Barrow, Plough Fell, Burn Moor, Whitfell (at 572 metres our high point of the day), Stainton Pike, Hesk Fell (an outlier like Kinmont and Plough, enabling us to dump our packs and take a break from load carrying), Yoadcastle, Woodend Height, White Pike and The Knott. So many hills, but only about 750 metres ascent in total. Alan and Sheila are pictured at one of these many summits.

There were lots of nesting birds about today - skylarks,  meadow pipits and wheatears in particular, with noisy geese on Devoke Water. Luckily we didn't disturb any nests, if anything protecting them from scavenging crows.

At 5pm we reached the boggy shore of Devoke Water, and our first proper streams of the day. At SD 161 968, shortly before the boathouse, a babbling brook and flat expanse of grass duly obliged and we set up camp in the strong breeze.

Then the wind dropped, resulting in another idyllic camping spot and a lovely sunset over the lake, enjoyed in the peace of our own company after some brave swimmers had left the vicinity of the boathouse. 

Our campsite, and the sunset, should also be pictured.

Sent from the English Lake District

Good Friday 2014 - Lakes - Day 1

The cupboards full of hiking gear were ransacked yesterday,  and supermarket shelves were raided, resulting in a rather tubby rucksack. 

This accompanied me on the very pleasant journey to Silecroft, where Alan and Sheila performed a touching 'meet and greet' ceremony with their friends Alan and Tina.

And so it was that a little after noon on a perfect summer's day, our intrepid trio embarked on its Lakeland perambulation. There were a few folk about as we ascended Black Combe, but it was a Bank Holiday after all. 

The lunch stop was welcome. We were joined by Freddie as we lounged in the sunshine. He assiduously licked out the remains of the sauce in my tuna salad's container. 

We missed the turn to the south top, distracted by a couple of quad bikes, so Sheila guarded the rucksacks whilst Alan and I bagged the Birkett.

The bikes phutted off when we reached the 600 metre trig point - our high point for the day. From then on we enjoyed the peaceful surroundings of these quiet coastal hills.

Stoupdale Head was easily reached after a lengthy descent (pictured) and a meagre 30 metres of ascent. From there we headed down to White Combe accompanied by views of the Duddon estuary and across to Black Coombe. A couple seemed bemused by our planned itinerary. They watched with puzzled expressions as we descended further to White Hall Knott, after we'd told them we were heading for Harter Fell. 

White Hall Knott, diminutive in stature at around 300 metres, turned out to be a lovely little hill with more brilliant views.

We had planned to camp in the valley, by Horse Back, but it was still only mid afternoon, and whilst a sheltered spot, which looked good from above, was planned, it would have lost the sun early. So we lugged our huge packs (Alan and Sheila may dispute the adjective) back up to Stoupdale Head then down the fence line towards Stoneside Hill. Arriving near a sping emanating from the Black Dub area near Charity Chair at 4.40pm, a wide expanse of flat ground on the watershed, with fine views both east and west, meant that the decision to camp required only a smidging of brain power.

Our camp site is shown. We've enjoyed a memorable afternoon and evening in perfect conditions. Lots of goodies have been consumed, and the slight haze has cleared to reveal a large island to our west. A lovely sunset rounded of this fine afternoon in the hills.

We walked about 12.5km, and ascended about 750 metres during the four and a half hours since leaving Silecroft. 

Sent from the English Lake District

Summer arrives in Trafford

This time last year we were having to cancel trips because of snow. The trees hadn’t started to show any greenery. This year is quite different. The good weather (warm, if a bit wet at times) has brought everything on apace, as shown by these pictures taken on one of my regular outings, usually by bike, that links the Bridgewater Canal with the Trans Pennine Trail (TPT).

From Timperley, the canal towpath through Altrincham soon leads to the Bay Malton and the TPT. From there a short road section takes you past our recycling centre and various pony trekking stables, to a good path through woodland along the border between Carrington Moss and the housing of Sale.

After crossing the Mersey and the M60 motorway, the TPT goes under the A56 in Stretford, shortly after which we re-join the Bridgewater Canal towpath where the TPT heads off towards Chorlton. It’s then a pleasant route back over the Mersey and under the M60 to Sale, where canal barges and throngs of customers descend on the King’s Ransom for food and ale.

On the other side of the water, the towpath proceeds straight as an arrow all the way back to Timperley.

It’s a nice route to have on the doorstep – about 18km (11 miles), taking a little less than an hour on a bike.

Tuesday 15 April 2014 - Hanging Stone and Lud’s Church

This year’s first ‘daylight’ evening walk covered familiar ground that has featured in other reports – here you will find out much more about the highlights of tonight’s walk.

We’ve had many happy visits to the Ship Inn at Wincle, and whilst the beer was ok tonight the welcome was, well, not very welcoming. There’s a small bar where the barman was chatting to his mates. Either side were large and very empty rooms. We chose the one next to the bar. “You can’t go there, that’s for diners” we were then told, after parking ourselves at an unlaid table for what would obviously be a very brief visit before our walk. So we went to the other large empty room. I wonder why these rooms are all so empty?

Anyway, Graham arrived and we decided that although we’d planned to visit the pub again after our walk, our cars would probably not be welcome in the pub car park whilst we were away, so we left the place, thinking that we could find somewhere more appreciative of our business later.

Graham and I got some good sunset views as we strolled up towards Hanging Stone, whilst Sue and Andrew dawdled just out of sight of the dipping orb. We assembled at the standing stone below Hangingstone Farm – Hanging Stone is in the background.

As we closed in on Hanging Stone, it was silhouetted nicely in the dusk, whilst Sue and Andrew were a blur in the foreground against the Roaches and Hen Cloud as they tore up the path.

From Hanging Stone there are good views towards Shutlingsloe. This is not the best such image that has appeared on these pages, but it does reflect the loveliness of this particular evening. The colour of the sky is ‘dusk blue’, albeit it might appear grey!

By the time we reached the post-glacial cleft of Lud’s Church it was nearly dark. Looking up from the depths of the cleft, the air was thick with bats, some of which are visible here at the top of the picture.

After exploring the cleft we returned through the forest to the entrance, then headed briefly towards Gradbach before hitting the Dane Valley path back to Wincle. A pleasant path, thankfully dry after all the fine weather we’ve been enjoying. Torches were needed in the latter stages through woodland during the post dusk, pre full moon period. A shrew* scurried ahead of us, stopping for a while, frozen to the spot in the light of my Petzl (torch).

On arrival at the cars after 8km with 300 metres ascent in a little over two hours, the worker in our midst decided an early night was needed so no further pub visit was made. We drove home with a blazing yellow moon in our mirrors, passing the Fools Nook in Gawsworth that I’d thought would be a good alternative to the Ship. Sadly the Fools Nook turned out to be closed and up for sale.

A lovely evening in perfect weather. Summer has arrived.

[I forgot my camera, hence the rather poor ‘phone’ pictures. Graham’s should be better.]

*I think it was a shrew as it was only a couple of cm long, with a tail more than twice the length of the body. But it didn’t appear to have a particularly long nose…

PS After reading this entry, Graham kindly provided a further two images, taken whilst we watched the lovely sunset from the standing stone below Hangingstone Farm:

Saturday 12 April 2014 – The Calderdale Hike

This is the fourth report I’ve written on the Calderdale Hike, since starting this blog in 2007.

In 2009 I walked a slightly longer course with Robert, in seven and a half hours, winning the ‘fastest veteran walker’ trophy some ten years after I first got it.

In 2011 I walked with Robert again, in a team of four with Alastair and Steven. We finished the same 27 mile route in just over seven and a half hours, winning the team trophy.

In 2012 I walked the current course with a complete stranger, Richard Green, finishing with him in 7 hours 11 minutes. He got the fastest man trophy (and kept it in 2013), but there was a quicker veteran (over 50 years old) than me. This year Richard, now a veteran, was absent due to an Achilles problem – I hope you recover soon.

Yesterday I fancied a lie in, so I entered as a runner. Runners start at 9am, whereas walkers start at 7am (long 37 mile route) and 8am (short 26 mile route). My plan was to walk the route, jogging some downhill bits so as to use different muscles and be fresher at the end compared with walking all the way. [Walkers are not allowed to run.]

You can see from the pictures taken at the start that, dressed as a hiker, I looked a little out of place amongst the runners, many of whom were competing as a result of the event being on the ultramarathon running event programme.

In the foreground of the above picture is Howard, from Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team, with whom I walked the last third of the walk.

This year there were more running than walking entries amongst the 230 or so participants. It was just twenty minutes from the off to the first checkpoint at Nab End. The vast majority of ‘runners’ had zoomed off into the distance and had already had their tallies clipped by the time I went through, just ahead of the final stragglers pictured below.

Soon the familiar sight of Stoodley Pike Monument* came into view, and much to my surprise I came across the trio of Rebecca, Carly and Neil, in whose company I’d spent much of the recent Two Crosses walk. We seem to travel at a similar pace.

They soon jogged off up the hill, part of a long line of people ascending to the monument….

….but my walking pace is faster than theirs.

We descended to the excellent support point at Lumbutts by different routes, this being a sort of orienteering event in that you choose your own route between checkpoints. Then I selected the off-road path to cross the Rochdale Canal to the east of Todmorden’s centre, and I climbed steeply up to Cross Stones checkpoint. Here the longer route splits from the short route, which doubles back a short way, so I met Neil, Rebecca and Carly as they approached the checkpoint before they headed off on the longer route. “Good luck” was exchanged, and I may never see them again as they hadn’t finished by the time I left for home a few hours later. I hope they enjoyed a good day out.

After helping out some lost scouts, I made my way up to Great Stone, then over to Blackshaw Head and Colden, passing a few folk who had started walking an hour before I’d set off. Luckily, a bit of drizzle came to nothing, but the overcast conditions and lack of companions dulled my enthusiasm for any photography.

The path across Heptonstall Moor was surprisingly dry, though others seemed to have missed this path and were spread all over the moor. After this an easy track leads past Hardcastle Crags and an old mill, with increasing numbers of day trippers, to the excellent support point at New Bridge.

Then I caught up with Howard, the mountain rescue man, and spent the rest of the walk more or less in his company. The longer route rejoined our route at New Bridge, and by the time we reached the finish line five of the ‘ultra athletes’, who we referred to as ‘the professionals’ had passed us despite having travelled eleven miles further.

Midgley Moor was boggy and route finding was tedious. Any chance of finishing within six hours was lost here. Not to worry, we soon reached the lane to Jerusalem Farm, and the descent to Luddenden Foot was hampered only by a long wait at a pelican crossing to negotiate the busy A646 road.

Howard was ahead at this point, but his local knowledge didn’t include familiarity with the walking route back up to Sowerby from the canal. Here, he’s some way ahead of me, consulting his map.

Eventually Howard gave up and waited for me to guide him back to the finish, near where the fifth of the long distance runners passed us and found a short cut that I didn’t know about. Never mind, we finished in a most acceptable 6 hours 11 minutes, and were soon tucking into baked potatoes with a variety of fillings, together with rehydration fluid provided by the barman at the cricket club.

Here’s the short route that we completed, 42 km with 1600 metres ascent. It’s the third time this route has been used, so there will be a new one next year.

Thanks to the organisers for putting on another well organised and brilliantly supported event, and congratulations to all those who took part and finished.

Shame about the veteran’s trophy that I’d have got if I’d entered as a walker and taken a little longer – I think the fastest veteran took well over eight hours to finish. I’d expected Robert to enter in that category, and he’s rather quicker than me these days, but he was busy putting bikes in boxes for a trip to Mallorca! You missed out, Robert. I think that Robert and Richard may vie for the veteran’s trophy in years to come – I’ve missed my last chance… but I did enjoy the chance to do a bit of jogging.

*Stoodley Pike is a 1,300-foot (400 m) hill in the south Pennines, noted for the 121 feet (37 m) Stoodley Pike Monument at its summit, which dominates the moors above Todmorden. The monument was designed in 1854 by local architect James Green, and completed in 1856 at the end of the Crimean War.

The monument replaced an earlier structure, started in 1814 and commemorating the defeat of Napoleon and the surrender of Paris. It was completed in 1815, after the Battle of Waterloo (Napoleonic Wars), but collapsed in 1854 after an earlier lightning strike, and decades of weathering. Its replacement was therefore built slightly further from the edge of the hill. During repair work in 1889 a lightning conductor was added, and although the tower has since been struck by lightning on numerous occasions, no notable structural damage is evident. There is evidence to suggest that some sort of structure existed on the site before even this earlier structure was built.

The monument contains a spiral staircase of 39 steps, accessed from its north side. During repairs in 1889 a grill was added to the top step, allowing more light in, so that only 6 or 7 steps are in darkness. There are no windows. The entrance to the balcony, the highest point that can be reached, and some 40 feet above ground level, is on the west face.

Wednesday 9 April 2014 – Plodders invade Bollington

Some troops landed late. Military activities in Hale Barns and Wilmslow were blamed. Others landed early, but in the wrong place. The Vale Inn’s car park had appealed to them more than the nearby Middlewood Way car park and its attendant facilities and information board.

So in true ‘JJ LDWA’ fashion we set off on this little stroll at about 10.50am, proceeding across a park where the mowers and rollers were optimistically preparing for the cricket season, and far underneath an impressive aqueduct carrying the Macclesfield Canal.

Then began the relentless ascent up to White Nancy, the folly built around 1817 to commemorate victory at Waterloo, nowadays sometimes utilised to commemorate things like Jubilees and the Olympics. It was a blank white today as having slithered impressively up the hill, we posed in front of a reluctant passer-by for a team photo (see above).

Two Johns, an Alan, another Allan and a Martin made up today’s select gathering.

I’d been on a more or less identical walk with Andrew on 1 March 2013 so I’ll not say much about the route, other than it was easy to follow and there’s a map below.

Recently arrived Chiffchaffs, heard but not easily seen, serenaded us as we rose to the folly, and they accompanied us for most of the day. After visiting the 313 metre summit of Kerridge Hill and descending down to and back out of the outskirts of Rainow, a halt was called on the Gritstone Trail path near Hordern Farm. A little late for elevenses, but it’s never too late for cake with this lot.

There was a fine view towards Shining Tor.

Refreshed from our long break, we continued on to the fleshpots of Tegg’s Nose and another long break in the shelter of the old quarry workings, where Allan instructed Alan on some engineering niceties.

 

After the tutorial, Alan took his position and attempted to rearrange the display.

Whilst it was a nice day, there was a cool breeze on the exposed heights of this walk, so the enclosed nature of our lunch spot was ideal. Children played enthusiastically on the old cranes whilst we enjoyed fine views towards Macclesfield Forest and Shutlingsloe, and down to the Langley Reservoirs.

We wandered off, meeting one of Rick’s daughters as we approached the steep path down to Langley, where Mallards and Tufted ducks seemed to have taken possession of the overflowing reservoir.

Saint Dunstans Inn was closed as it usually is on mid-week afternoons. Across the road the sad remains of a 142 year old mill works contrasted with a nearby impressive pile. See below for another picture of Langley Mill.

We walked past the latter, on our way beside various spring flowers* such as this gorse.

to

A very muddy track that traversed high above Macclesfield, before the surface relented and an excellent path drew us gently past a classic Ford Capri to the Macclesfield Canal and the easy climax to the day’s stroll.

Sadly my planned ‘afternoon tea bench’ was occupied, so we had to make do with the grassy canalside for our final break for tea and the last pieces of cake.

Near here a Mallard with just one surviving chick was being stalked by a plump heron. JJ did his best to distract the heron, but I fear the mallard will have to rely on a second brood. I don’t think mallards are on the endangered species list, but the chances of this youngster surviving seem remote.

It’s an area of beautifully proportioned canal bridges, such as this one on the approach to Bollington.

A steep descent took us back down to the recreation ground and car park by around 4.30pm.

A most enjoyable day out in fine company, was followed by a speedy and uneventful journey home.

Here’s our route – 19km, 450 metres ascent, taking 5.75 hours.

My full set of 44 images is here.

* Birds-eye Speedwell
Butterbur
Lesser Celandine
Daisies and Dandelions
Bright Yellow Gorse
and many more

Since I posted this entry, Alan R has kindly sent me the following picture of Langley Mill, which dates from 1872, in Slightly Happier Days, though I’m sure its history extends to Much Happier Days.

Alan R has also recorded the walk here, with a little additional information together with his usual sprinkling of humour. Well done, Alan.