A walk to the Stara Community Woodland can never start from anywhere but the hidden car park in Rilla Mill.
We have visited the woodland 3 times now and there are always changes as the volunteers carry out their work, this time it was a new lifebuoy on the river bank. But I am jumping the gun, it was first a climb up to the top of the woodland passing snowdrops as we went. After descending back into the woodland 2 of our number had to go for a bounce on the bridge, there are no swings here!
We then crossed the County Bridge to follow the river into Rilla Mill, where we crossed the road and then started the procession of many different Stiles as we climbed up the bank to make our way to Sutton. Here we also had to battle with the bamboo and low hanging branches between the 2 stiles to avoid walking through the farmyard. Down the hill for another river crossing and along the valley climbing towards the Ladder Stiles, which as they were adjacent to gates we were able to avoid as they were covered in brambles. It was down to Plusha Bridge to cross the river again, a short climb through the fields past the only bench, through the remains of the dog training area and back to Rilla Mill.
Straight to The Manor House Inn, a proper pub, which was warm and welcoming before returning to the cars by the woods where the final climb brought us back to the hidden car park.
Not only a walk but an exercise class with all those stiles, 14 I think.