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I don't tend to write about every nook and cranny I walk, but this woodland walk, was to say the least, a pleasant surprise, least of all because I got lost in there.....
This walk or this wood is in no books or website as a walkers place, my curiosity in it was only brought about because of the road it is along; with its two long strengths and sweeping bends, ideal for the old bike (sticking to the speed limits of course). I did find info about it, but as a horse riders route ( as signified by the hoof printed markers you will follow) and on occasion as a rally route (as it will be at the beginning of august 2014 when all access is withdrawn because of it), plus the one thing that increased my curiosity to heightened levels - a pond with masses of dragonfly populations. Ye not alot really, but surprise was in the form of other things it contained at this time of years.
As stated before, I got lost in their as I had not brought a map with us and thus ended up doing this walk in two days but covered the route outlined in the attached route thingy. As it turned out, their is no need to do a blow by blow of the route, the hoof markers are quite visible.
But, the trail is over quite wide tracks with the odd over grown bit. The ground is quite firm and going by the amount of hoof prints on the ground, is not used very much by horse riders but still you should keep an eye out for them although it is sooo quiet and peaceful in places, you'd probably hear them before they see you.
For a plantation wood, the mixture of tree's (off of the main gravel track) is quite unusual offering the chance viewing of a mixture of season flowers and fungi and smells quite unlike usually associated with pine woods. Nice one's that is.
Which ever way you go, you will eventually get to walk along the river on the north/west side of the wood - this place is the treasure that bestowed the most pleasant surprise for me. Can't really put it in words but it was like the first time I walked in culbin amongst the white mosses, sort of primordial virgin woodland. Plus here the sunlight playing over the carpet of grasses and plants we walked through, along with the muted rushing of the river made me not really give a **** that I was lost. I took one photo along here and I know this sounds weirder then what I've already said (also showing my age), but I swear it reminded me of the video to Lost in France by bonnie tylor.
If you walk the route taking the first track on the right from the main gravel track, then this pleasant part will cease as you re-join the gravel track, but not for long. At the gravel track turn left and then right along a track lined by moss forested pinewood land. This part didn't hold any particular surprises, although I think my wife was thankful that it headed downwards. It does a few bends before heading out into an open part of the wood - you need to take the first left track here which is narrow and slightly over grown, but not for long as it leads you to the lake, ye the lake I didn't find....
Saw a few damsel and dragonflies but after the description I'd read about their abundance, I had to conclude that after all that, we'd turned up in their dinner hour. Shame that their is no seats around, was a real quiet peaceful place.
Back into the pines again and on a home run along verges that bloomed with fungi. After crossing a wide clear track watch out for the left turn, the hoof sign is slightly hidden, then its via another fungi alley back to the gravel track and the C/P.
I have no dought that if I'd walked this wood in a different season, it would of not imprinted itself on me as it did, but then again a surprise, a nice surprise is very welcome now and again, and I didn't get lost, I just decided to turn left instead of right....
