Gradbach to Three Shires Head

 Friday 13th September

The sunrise through the window was spectacular, just before 7 am.

We had breakfast and set off from Snipe Cottage soon after 9 am. The car park at Gradbach had plenty of room at this time, and we started walking just after 9.30. 

We did the route from February in reverse - this way is better, as the climbing is done more quickly and of course more steeply.

We walked back along the road for about 100 yards, before turning left, over a footbridge.

We followed the footpath by the river Dane to a minor road.

Shortly after the cottage there is a footpath to the right. It climbs steeply, through woodland

with ferns and gorse.

We reached an even more minor road shortly before Bennetsitch Farm and followed the road uphill until we reached a footpath on the left which leaves the road quite steeply, just past a farm building, and opposite Hole Edge Farm

The footpath joins a track past a small cottage. 

The sign, barely legible says “Beware of the Dog.” We saw and heard nothing.

As we climbed  higher there were great views over towards the Roaches,

and also to Shutlingsloe.

We met no one until we reached the high point on the moors. The footpath joined Knarr Lane just behind a cottage, and then our route took us over the road to the track to Three Shires Head. We paused for a coffee by this track.

We met a group of walkers and a lone mountain biker on this track. At Three Shires Head itself, there were at least a dozen people, many of them in the water.

It was quieter on the other side of the bridge.

The descent was along the stony track, then downhill over fields far less muddy that in February.

The gentle slope is far better as descent than ascent.

We arrived back at the cottage by 1pm for lunch. 

Almost 5 miles, but quite strenuous, with uneven paths, some bog, and almost 600 feet of climbing.

The cloud cover increased as the morning progressed.

Rudyard Lake - clockwise

 Wednesday 11th September 2024

We went out after coffee and started walking at 1pm . Much quieter than last time we were here, and few dogs this time.

Rudyard Lake circular in the opposite direction from 20th October 2023. So we walked the western, hillier, more scenic side first.

This worked well today as the weather was bright and sunny,

before the rain clouds came over,

as we were walking beneath the trees on the eastern side,

next to the miniature railway track. 4.5 miles.

We had a couple of pauses, one for a Twix at the northern end on the bridge near the bird feeders,

and one on a bench near the dam.

We bought a hot drink at the cafe before returning to Ridgehead farm.

We saw a buzzard, swallows dipping over a grassy field, a couple of blue tits on a feeder, and later some sand martins near the cafe.

Buxton Country Park, Solomon’s Temple and Pavilion Park.

 Thursday 12th September 2024

We went into Buxton, and after the farcical impossibility of paying in the Pavilion car park - machine out of order and phone app not playing - we parked at the country park, and even there had to pay inside the visitor centre! 

A cup of coffee and a scone later we walked up to Solomon’s Temple, and back round to the Visitor Centre.

We followed the short route up the steps and steepish paths through the woods.

We couldn’t resist these two characters from the past.

We made our way up to Grin Low and Solomon’s Temple.

Back across the fields above the camp site, and down through the woods.

Afterwards we walked into Buxton Pavilion Park, where one or two of the trees are beginning to show an autumn glow.

We had a coffee in the cafe there - its ’freshly made sandwiches’ turned out to be pre-packed, so we left lunch until we got back to the ranch.

As we walked back up to the car there was a very loud peal of thunder, but the promised storm didn’t materialise. remarkable views of landscape and clouds along the A53.

Somewhere around 4.3 miles in all. We covered the same ground as our walk last October, with variations.

A walk after rain - Staffordshire Moorlands

After. morning of mist and rain, the weather cleared, and we decided we should get out.

From the cottage at Ridgehead Farm, we walked up through the field to the road, then across to the very rutted track to Morridge Top.  

Here we crossed the A53 and went down the minor road, past Roundhill Farm, Adders Green, and the entrance to Anroach Farm.

We continued on this road past Moss Top Farm and as far as the crossroads. We turned left and went to the junction.  A left turn and a walk along the slightly busier road down a bit past Goldstych Farm, over the bridge across a stream ,

then quite a long uphill drag, past Baldstone and Newstone Farms and back to the main road. We turned left again, to walk for a few yards on the A53, which has a decent verge here. After The Winking Man pub, we took the first turn left. 

We walked beside the road up Bareleg Hill, which is just a bit too busy for comfort. Then it was downhill as far as the gate and track leading back to the cottage.

4.5 miles, with around 580 feet of climbing.

A bit too much road walking, but a good leg stretch and breath of air.

A late afternoon wander round Lymington

 Saturday 31st August

After a fairly inactive morning, which we’ll put down to recovering from yesterday’s walk, we went out to Lymington, late enough for traffic through Lyndhurst to be flowing freely. 

We walked from the car park near M& S and down Church Lane, past the crinkle crankle walls.

We continued to the harbour near the sea water pool.

We made our way back through the old town with its cobbled narrow streets.

A gentle and interesting two and a half miles or so, before dinner in Rivaaz, an excellent Indian restaurant.

Ashurst and Lyndhurst, Hampshire

 Ashurst and Lyndhurst

Friday 30th August 2024. With Harry.

We set off around 10 am to do a walk similar to one we did last year, but in reverse. It’s around 12 miles in all.

Through the houses to the main road to Lyndhurst - very busy as usual, but we soon left it and the noise of traffic behind. We took a not very obvious footpath opposite the New Forest Inn, and turned right  into the Woodlands area, with its grassy paths.

We followed the path west  past Ironshill Inclosure, leaving the Lodge hidden in the trees to our left. Then we crossed a gravelled track, and continued ahead for a short distance. There we turned left and walked through some more open land where there was a donkey grazing.

We sought a dry log to sit on and have a coffee break.

We know not to approach the animals, but this fellow took the initiative, in spite of us not feeding him.

There were also a few ponies. Very New Forest.

The path skirts the golf course and head towards the main road once more.

There is an underpass for pedestrians and animals - clearly well-used by the ponies.

Now we climbed the gentle slope of White Moor, making for the ridge close to Beaulieu Road. it was quite hot on this section of the walk, but nothing like last year.

After a mile and a half or so we reached Matley Wood campsite and a shaded section of the walk. This made a surprisingly quiet spot for lunch.

The path continued down hill, and we reached open heathland again.

We turned left along the path towards Ashurst Lodge, crossing the Beaulieu River via a footbridge.

At this point a herd of ponies appeared heading west..

We continued and took the path towards Ashurst Farm, crossing the mainline railway on the way. At Ashurst Farm (marked on the house as Churchplace Cottage, we followed the main track which comes out near the Happy Cheese pub. Once we arrived at the Southampton to Lyndhurst Road, we retraced our steps back to base.