Denston Walk

I'd arranged to walk with Jane today and, after a bit of discussion, we decided to do the Denston walk that Joyce is planning as the first group walk when we are allowed, with, potentially 2 groups of up to 6 walkers. If there are 2 groups, Jane or I need to be able to lead a second group, so we thought it good to do a recce. The walk was based this one we did last July, but Jane had a couple of tweaks to try and avoid some of the mud.

This was our route.

We met at Denston Village Hall and Jane told me Joyce was also planning on walking from there today too and, sure enough, before we left, Joyce arrived. But she was visiting Denston Hall first and not doing quite the same route. Here are a few of my photos.

We didn't go across the bridge to Bridge Cottage...

...but the other way past St. Nicholas, Denston Church which was, as the sign says, "Begun 1474".

I recognised this lovely house when we got to it, but it didn't have a "pond" last July.

As before, we passed the amazing sculptures from LCB Sculpture.

On the road here we found a broken-down tractor. The driver told us the cavalry were coming. Meanwhile, if anyone wanted to come past they would have to drive on the verge.

Our detour took us back to the route via this lane, which wasn't quite as mud-free as Jane had hoped.

We were curious about how all these trees seemed to have snapped in the middle.

Soon we came to Wickhambrook, with the All Saints, Wickhambrook Church appearing from the mist.

Near the church were some cheerful dwarf narcissi...

...and a mass of snowdrops. They have been particularly good this year, I think.

Even the topiary hens had some.

We crossed a ford. I used the footbridge, but Jane walked through to wash some of the mud off her boots.

We had caught up with Joyce. She had stopped to talk to the lady from this house with a fabulous garden who was just coming back from walking her dogs. When she saw us at the gate she came and had a chat with us too.

There are still some wintery sights to be seen. I liked these teasels.

Shortly before arriving back in Denston we passed  a garden with an amazing collection of waterfowl. I must try and find out what these are and update this bit.

Then it was back through the village to our cars at the Village Hall.

It was interesting to do the walk in a different season. Thank-you Jane for leading us round impeccably... and it was good to bump into Joyce too.

You can see more of my photos here on Flickr and more details of our route here on MapMyWalk.