Date: Location: Walk Leader: Participants: Distance: Parking: Lunch: | 29th January 2014 Balmer Lawn Peter Peter, Clive, Ray, Rob. 7.4 miles Balmer Lawn Car Park The Snake Catcher ★ |
The forecast was not very good but inspite of this one member of our group, who shall remain nameless, failed to bring a rain jacket. He tried to blame Peter, Ray and Clive for turning up too early to pick him up but we wouldn't have it. Fortunately he had an umbrella. As it turned out we were very lucky and only had a very little light drizzle during the day.
If following this route take care keep left and go around Victoria Tilery Cottage. There are several cycle paths in the area and a little care is needed to keep on the right one but other than that it is a very straightforward walk. There are no hills, no stiles and only very few gates so a good speed can be maintained.
The river was much closer to the car park than is normal and it was flowing at quite a rate and there were a few more signs of wind damage. There were many more signs of planned forestry work some of which was carrying on in spite of the conditions. Apart from the first and last stretches the walk is almost entirely through woodland so if it does rain there is usually some cover near by.
Lunch at the Snake Catcher was very disappointing. Expensive for what it was and they even had problems cooking fried eggs properly. Nothing like as good as our previous visit and not on the list for a return.