Ogston Reservoir and Brackensfield

Just 3 of us today and Robs turn to drive and with the threat of rain we didn't want to go far so we ended up at the West Car Park at Ogston Reservoir. We didn't want to go over any muddy fields today so we thought just keep to the minor roads and lanes. We came out of the car park onto the main road and headed for Holy Trinity Church on Butterfield Lane, passing the Heronry on the way.  From there we turned left onto Butterfield Lane walked around to Millers Lane passing a beautiful Highland cow and calf. We carried on around to the Green and onto Church Lane back to Holy Trinity Church and along Ogston New Road back to the car. We called into the bird hide there, it was empty so we had our breakfast in there watching some of the birds nearby.

This weeks route form the West car park Ogston Res

First glimpse from the car park

Sun shining in the windows of the hide

Couldnt see the Herons well because of the trees

War memorial

Highland cow and calf

Peeping through the hedge

Inscription on the well

Poetry on the wall

Rob & Ike

Holy Trinity Church

Lovely heron

Pair of Herons near their nest

Ike & Rob in the bird hide

Last shot of the trip

 This was another lovely little walk and the rain kept off until we were back in the car (so lucky). It was so peaceful sitting in the bird hide just watching the water lapping against those reeds.
See you next week.

Beeley Moor and Swiss Lake

All 4 of us today and Robs turn to drive. We decided to go up to the top end of Chatsworth Park coming in from the Beeley Moor corner. We were first ones there and set off down to the gate and the big steps over the style. The bracken has gone a lovely golden/ brown colour and was looking nice with the low warm sunlight. We passed a few young cows (not highland cattle) and then got down to the woods with some of the trees looking brilliant in the autumn colours. Its a long and winding track through the woods until we got to the Swiss Lake. We were here a couple of years ago and the lake had been drained but it was now almost full and giving lovely reflections to the trees om either side. We wandered a bit further around to the Emperor Lake where we knew there was a seat and that's where we had our breakfast. After breakfast we walked alongside the lake to the far end then made a right turn to join the official path. The track took us back to the gate at the start of the woods and then that long slog up the incline over the moor and eventually back to the car where there was now a couple of dozen parked.

This weeks route around Swiss Lake and Emperor Lake.

Geoff over the first style

Ike & Rob

Looks like a teddy bear cross dressing 

Edensor church

These were about 8 feet up a tree

Just sat there watching us

Rob & Ike

Swiss Lake

Weird looking mushroom

New water construction

Breakfast stop at Emperor Lake

What a view for breakfast

Rob & Ike 

A couple out walking their dog

You can look but don't touch 

Little beauty

Looking over to Chatsworth Park

Beeley Moor

Geoff

Trail bikers

Ac couple of buzzards above us

 A cracking morning out just over 5 miles in glorious crisp weather. We saw a bit of wildlife :- Jay, Squirrel, Pheasant and Buzzard as well as a few smaller birds. Quite a few people coming out as we were going back, just a beautiful winter morning.
See you next week