Lathkill Dale & Fern Dale

Another 06:00 am start and it was off up to the top end of Lathkill Dale. It was Ike's turn to drive and it didn't take long to get there. Booted up and through the gate and the first stop was a dew pond to see if there were any newts in it, there was quite a few. We've been through Lathkill Dale a few times but this time we were taking a new footpath that led us into new territory Fern Dale. Fern Dale is a lovely little dale with lots of limestone outcrops with tree's growing out of them. On our trip around we bumped into a chap we had spoken to a couple of years before, his name is Bill Gee and a very knowledgeable man. We had discussions about the local area and Horse drawn funeral carriages of all things.

Route around Lathkill Dale & Fern Dale

The first Dew Pond

Many sheep & lambs

This is one of those Water Boatman insects

Geoff & Ike

Snail

Views of Lathkill Dale

Heading into Manchester

First one this year

Peacock in One Ash Grange Farm

One Ash Grange Farm pond

Ike & Geoff

Breakfast stop

Spotted Magpie Mine way across the valley

Rob, Ike, Bill Gee & Geoff

Trouble getting over the style

All the sheep went running to Rob, they thought they were going to get fed

One of the larger Dew Ponds

Limestone walls

Views of Fern Dale

The ground was carpeted with Celandine

Another Celandine

Found him just as we were coming through the last gate at Lathkill Dale

Another cracking little walk only 3 1/2 miles, through some lovely scenery. We saw a hare, peacock and heard several skylarks and an abundance of lambs plus a meet up with Bill Gee.

Being out in the countryside is good for the soul.

See you next week

Cheers

Jim