The Lumb and Handley Woods

Another week with just the 3 of us and we decided another local walk. It was still quite dark when we set off and one of the neighbours has a brilliantly lit up Christmas tree in his front garden. This time we walked down Plains Lane to the Ashbourne Rd, crossed the road and headed up past the ford over the Black Brook and carried on up the lane towards Hazelwood. We passed by Lumb Grange then joined the road from Hazelwood to Shottlegate. We crossed over the A517 and set off towards Whitehouse Farm then across to Handley Woods. We did a small detour to look for the remains of a very old cottage which was called Keepers Cottage, i assume it was once the game keepers in years gone by. From there we followed the stream all the way back to Plains lane. There was one surprise in the woods and it was a 6 foot lizard just resting by the stream. Who put it there and why, that's the million dollar question.

This weeks route just short of 5 miles

Barry's Christmas Tree in Plains Lane.

Ike taking a sip of Geoff's water

The name at the top of the building says The Shanty 1900

Old stone style, The bottom of the right hand one has a height marker on it.

A nice mackerel sky

Geoff bringing up the rear.

An old VR letter box at Shottlegate

Low lying mist in the valleys 

Had a very moooving experience with these cows.

Nice muddy section to get through

Looks like an old quarry

Gate into Handley Woods.

The remains of the Keepers Cottage.

It looked like a croc on the side of the stream

Turned out to be a 6 foot long lizard.

Geoff

Old farm machinery

Some delicate fungi on a moss covered wall

 We set off in the dark and there was a touch of frost about, just 3 degrees showing on the car temp gauge. It was another pleasant walk and we even bumped into Elizabeth the lady we met last week.
See you next week
Happy Christmas to everyone and best wishes for 2017
Jim