Foot Paths I use

I walk these well worn tracks as often as I can.... they are all within a short walk from my house and take me away from a large housing estate, busy roads, with workshops and factory's. The differance in views and noise levels is a joy... long may these green oases in our towns survive the bulldozers of the future.

Standing Stones

Cheethams Park

Stalybridge

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This is not an ancient site made by a race of men long gone.... it is most proberly the brain child of one of the gardners here at the park.

I must admit that where it is situated is a very good choice... right at the far end of the park.... just by the entrance to the woods.

If I had seen this as a child it would have become a favourite spot to play, even now it as a certain feel about the place. I sat here for a good half hour taking in the sights, sounds and smell of the place. Who ever it was that thought this up deserves praise as the area is so peaceful.

In the back ground can be seen the old brick barn I showed a day or two back... and at the side is the woodland path.

Stile and Stone

The above stile takes you through a field used for grasing horses, but the path was here long before the horses came to graze here.

Some of these stones are woth investigating closer...... some have been worked into gate posts and are reused for stiles, other show signs of shaping but no sign of ever being a gate post. I like to think it might have been a 'standing stone' of some kind..... We do have them nearby so the idea is not as daft as it sounds.

This leads into a woodland pathway over looking Early Bank road and Early Bank Woods, the trees are mostly Beech, Oak, Chestnut, Rowen, Hawthorn and Holly.

Sweet Chestnuts

Early Back Woods

Cheethams Park & Nature Reserve

Stalybridge

Now is the ideal time to go out collecting our Sweet Chestnuts. As the October winds blow there will plenty falling from above. Make sure your head is safe.... I had one spike my bald pate last year ha!

I love these roasted , I simply slit the skin with a knife as they explode if you don't and roast them in a hot oven..... I can then sit there peeling back the skins and eat the softened nut within.

I picked about 10-12 pound in weight last week and have them in the shed ready for when needed.

Carved Badgers

Battling Bagers

Cheethams Park & Nature Reserve

Stalybridge

These are part of the parks Sulpture walk that I mentioned yesterday... more tomorrow.

3 Of - 5 For Sky Watch

This was the sky on Monday morning when I had a walk to a local park... I did take the more scenic route through the fields above Matley. To see more Sky Watch posts visit
Sky Watch Friday

Walk Around Matley

Once you've smelt a fox you will never mistake that smell again..... their really is not another smell like it.

Here's the tree lined pathway that I had not walked before. It was dark and muddy but held a nice surprise which I smelt before I saw it..

This is a typical fox den, and one that I think as just recently started to be used as it was still relatively clean outside. A foxes den is usually a single entrance hole that may originally have been made by a rabbit or badger. I was sure the fox was at home as the smell around the entrance hole was overpowering. I had seen scats from a fox in one or two spots on my walk..... most had been near to openings in the hedgerows and like the den the smell was a giveaway what had done them... I was still surprised to see this den where it was.... as a number of cottages were a stone throws away. Horses were stabled nearby... and chickens were pecking away. I'm sure as soon as the owners realise this fox is there it's days are numbered. The path where I found this is a public footpath... very muddy in places and didn't show much signs of use.... on the other side of the trees the field is a few feet higher, with a path along the field that I'm sure the folks from the cottages use... as it is well trodden, dry and leads directly to the end cottage.

Walk Around Matley 9

More Sights To See

Old Gate

I am always on the look out for these, more so for the gate posts. Some are very well carved and I'm sure different areas had different designs.

View Towards Hyde

This clearly shows how near to the town we are, and the blue sign in the middle right of the above shot is a traffic sign on the M67 motorway which cuts its way through the center of the town.

Old Farm Buildings..

These buildings are down a pathway I have not walked before and is somthing I know nothing about.... it will however be getting a visit as soon as I can make this walk again. It looks lived in but I can't think of any roads or lanes that lead that way...

Waymarker & Stile

These are something else I keep taking pictures of.... more as a reminder to check the paths out... and another reason is I come across them damaged at times and it helps to have a picture when reporting them.

Dry Stone Wall

As you nearly all know now I show these whenever I can... this one is well past its best and will be lost for ever in time. It is an old stretch of walling but most as gone and the gapes have been replaced with barbed wire.

Rights Of Way

Out and About

Around Matley Lane

Stile off Matley Lane

Looking back

Way Marker of Public Footpaths

Well worn path

Stile leading to Early Bank Road

Which way to walk?

I try to keep to Public Footpaths as much as I can when out and about.... more so when on farm land... but as you can read... I do have the 'Right To Roam'

Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW), we the public can walk freely on mapped areas of mountain, moor, heath, downland and registered common land without having to stick to these paths..... if interested read more about the Rights Of Way

I know one or two of you have your own land, and not coming from the UK will find it interesting that anyone..... 'yes anyone' can walk over mapped private land with public access here.... some old pathways actually take you right through peoples gardens..... there are no 'Keep Out' signs then.... just a 'Please Close The Gate' sign.