Mallards Pike

Unlike most ponds in the Forest of Dean that were made to supply water wheels that powered the mills and iron forges of the Forests industrial past Mallards was made by the Forestry Commission for community use. The larger, lower pond is used for water sports, the upper pond is left undisturbed for wildlife but both, this weekend, found the ponds completely frozen over.

 But a watery sun and sprinkling of frost made the ramble crisp and pleasant.

Finishing the day with warm tea and warm homemade bread :-p

Walking in the Forest

Circumnavigating Soudley Ponds, in the Forest of Dean, through a carpet of gold before the winter frost sets in.

Stopped off for a warming bowl of soup at the Forest Heritage Centre Cafe. If your ever down this way I can recommend the cafe. Too many rural facilities have been lost - it's important to use them rather than loose them.

A few yards on from the centre is the entrance to the Bradley Hill Trail, follow the green waysigns, some parts are slightly challenging but a picturesque ramble.

Golden Brown

Autumn in the City

and in the Forest

Soudley Ponds

Nagshead Nature Reserve

L'automne est arrivé

Westonburt Arboretum is undoubtedly one of the best places to view natures autumn colours - never fails to disappoint. Sunday was a near perfect autumnal day. Clear blue sky, nip in the air and trees bedecked in colour.

The Forest of Dean is equally colourfull with many interesting trails to explore.

Whiteout

Still it snows - but it may be gone soon n replaced by floods (probably be a plague of locusts after that!)Still made the most of it. Our path through the forest was crossed by a family of four deer - just managed to catch the last one as it lept through the trees.






Watched the birds n ducks as they walked across the frozen pond.

Beyond Symonds Yat

Just got back from a brisk, if somewhat muddy, walk on the west bank of the Wye at Symonds - the aptly named Peregrine Way. We walked down from the top car park at Symonds - a decision we would come to rue on the climb back up on the way back. The Peregrine Path starts from the New Weir car park and follows the old railway line from Symonds Yat towards Monmouth.  2km from Symonds Yat you come to the recently restored Biblins suspension bridge which carries the Wye Valley Walk over the river. If you thought the original new bridge across the Thames was wobbly ... 

Following the river path through the now deserted camp site the path rose steeply up to King Arthurs Cave, the lad certainly got around.











On the descent you pass the remains of Mr Partridges Weir and Ironworks

The track was more muddy than usual due to an excess of rain and lots of churning from Forestry Com. workings in the woods. The trip back was across the the hand-pulled ferry to the Saracens Head Inn on the banks of the Wye. 

Autumn Colours in the Forest of Dean

Amazing sunny weekend, not yet crisp with frost, but a perfect day to enjoy the rustic colours of autumn. The forest floor in many places is carpeted in gold and brown. Together with the shards of low sunlight seeping through the trees makes this years a memorable autumnal scene.





















and having walked the path from Blackpool Pond there is no better place to refresh than the kiosk at Mallards Pike Lake.

Twinned with Loughboro’

Great weekend in the company of Sue, Jean n Mo – M’s friends from way back, thru from Loughborough.

Sunny Saturday was spent revisiting the Forestof Dean ending with snacks at the Dean Heritage Centre 











including a tour of the grounds with woodcut sculpting – this time specialising in Gruffalo.

 




 

Rounding the day off at sundown, with two additional friends at the Tudor Arms Slimbridge – mentioned in the Good Beer Guide having won many awards, do a great pint of ‘Pigs Ear’.

 

An even sunnier Sunday, after a late but wholesome breckie, saw us in Bourton on the Water with a round tour of the village followed by a stroll round the Windrush and its mill pond.