Friday 28 February 2025 - May Hill

For a second walk of the day, Sue and I stopped in May Hill Village and enjoyed a stroll up and down May Hill. A very pleasant clockwise circuit on a warm, sunny afternoon.

More woodland paths, similar in many ways to the ones we had enjoyed earlier in the Clent Hills.

Near or at the 296 metre summit, a trig point on the edge of a small wood.

Time for a coffee and cake break.

We continued over the crest of the hill and headed back down via some nice forestry paths in Newent Woods, eventually reaching the village hall where we should have parked - there was lots more room than in the muddy spot we chose a bit further down the hill.

There are lots of road/pathside flowers just now, mainly snowdrops and also lesser celendine and wood anemones. It's very spring like as we move into March.

Here's our route - 6km with 200 metres ascent, taking about a leisurely hour and a half.

Friday 28 February 2025 - Walton Hill

This was a little more than an hour's walk from a National Trust car park (Nimmings Wood) and cafe in the Clent Hills. Just a short break on a journey further south, a few minutes to the west of Juncion 3 on the M5.

I set off on an anticlockwise circuit and soon came across Phil and two Sues. By coincidence they were doing a similar walk in the opposite direction.

I left them to their snacks and continued on from the viewpoint that provides fine views over the Midlands. Albeit rather hazy views today.

A little further up the hill I encountered The Four Stones. These  may look ancient and mysterious, but they were actually created in the eighteenth century for Lord Lyttleton as a folly to be viewed by visitors from down in the valley. 

My 5km circuit followed undulating paths like the one in the next two pictures.

There's a trig point on the 315 metre summit of Walton Hill. I'm still not good at selfies.

A broad path led back to the car park, where Sue was waiting and a latte and a cheese toastie went down well before our journeys continued.

Here's my route - 5.6km with 200 metres ascent, taking little more than an hour.

Wednesday 26 February 2025 - Delph Reservoirs Walk

This was a lovely day out with Sheila, Andy, Sue and Alan (he's the dot in the background retrieving his camera.

The route was inspired by Alan's walk on a similar route in June 2021, on which he reported in more depth than I have time to devote to this brief diary entry - here. 

Alan has also reported on today's walk, here.

After crossing the main Blackburn Road, we soon came to a complex junction of paths.

With views down to Delph Reservoir, a right turn along the indistinct path of the Witton WeaversWay took us through grassland to the 329 metre summit of Cheetham Close, our high point of the day.

We didn't get to the bottom of the purpose of several posts, but we did locate the Stone Circle marked on the map. Andy later discovered that it was vandalised by a local farmer with a sledge hammer in the 18th century.

My 'selfie' skills leave a lot to be desired!

Thanks go to Sue for this picture at the summit.

We made our way back to the Blackburn Road, via an elevenses break at Horridge's Farm, passing Dimple Hall, and enjoying a pleasant footpath beside a stream.

After using a minor private road to avoid a very boggy field path, we were told off by the owner before proceeding to a graveyard next to a chapel that looks as if it has been converted to a private home.

With the reservoir's dam towering above us we made our way along a brilliantly constructed path below the reservoir.

The outflow gleamed in the sunlight and we looked up to a very long fish ladder (or is it?).

The pleasant surroundings of Eagley Brook provided a fine location for lunch.

Then we continued for the entire length of Longworth Clough, passing the derelict Spring Side paper works.

There were lots of Scarlet Elfcups.

And a curious seating area beside the river.

Alan noted in his 2021 report that planning permission for a housing estate on the paper mill's land has been granted. There is however no evidence of any effort to clear what must be a heavily contaminated site.

Beyond a sturdy little bridge, the path led steeply up to Longworth Road.

Further on, after crossing Longworth Road, we passed a pond. 'No Bathing', but a large chunk of worked rock provides a nice seat overlooking the (no) bathing. Nearby signs remind us of the hazards of jumping into cold water.

We then set off beside Stones Bank Plantation, thanking the luck that brought us a day free from the forecast rain, which judging by the next picture was lurking nearby.

The 'interesting' path led to Owshaw Clough, from where we doubled back into Moss Side Plantation. Here the boggy path was strewn with fallen trees.

 

Anyway, we pressed on and made it back with dry feet all round.

Here's our route, starting from the red blob. It was 11.5 km, with about 250 metres ascent, taking us a very leisurely four and a half hours. 

Thanks for your company, everyone, that was a most enjoyable outing.

4 to 9 February 2025 - A Week at Tigh Mor

Index:

Tuesday 4 February 2025 - Ben A'an

Wednesday 5 February 2025 - Stob Breac

Thursday 6 February 2025 - Ben Venue

Friday 7 February 2025 - Callander Craig and Bracklinn Falls

Saturday 8 February 2025 - Lime Craig

Sunday 9 February 2025 - Four Small Hills
Innerdownie
Whitewisp Hill
Tarmangie Hill
Ben Shee