Wednesday, 1st June 2016

A total of 27 people arrived for this walk, and we were pleased to welcome some regulars who had missed a few weeks; David Kelly from Area and two gentlemen, Alan and Tony from other local Ramblers’ groups. It was a lovely day for walking with a pleasantly warm temperature but a little overcast to start off with. It was a pleasure to be dry underfoot for a change, even the worst muddy areas had dried up. The walk starts on a narrow grassy track off the canal before turning into a track which leads gradually down to the River Darwin. The sheep’s track across the meadows was a little too narrow for most feet. We then climbed steeply up through a wood to Hillock Farm. There was a bit of speculation as to what kind of factory used to stand on this site, which has been abandoned for many years. Demolition work was in progress though on the last remaining buildings. We wondered what/when/if the site would be developed. . When we reached the canal again we continued over the bridge for yet more climbing to the motorway. The field boundary had been removed, but not the stile, which was still left standing in the middle of the large field. A good back scratcher for the sheep. A few young ponies decided to charge us and investigate the intruders in their field but they were only being nosey.
The underpass was bone dry!! That must be a first!! We then had another climb up a field with long tussocky grass to Stanworth Farm, hard work and tiring, for those with short legs! Here we had our break and took off layers as the sunshine came out.
It was all downhill from then on!! The well made up track and tarmac surfaced farm drive soon brought us to the next road to cross and then field paths to reach the busy A674, our only real section of road walking. Ollerton Fold is a delightful hamlet which still has some old cottages but the farm and outbuildings have had much gentrification and the whole is very well kept. We soon reached the canal for the final half mile or so back to the Boat Yard for lunch. We were pleased that the meals came out very quickly and on the whole people were pleased with what they had ordered, but some ‘lite’ bights were quite small!!