What a lovely day for a walk. Cold but sunny, and crunchy underfoot with a sprinkling of snow on hard frosty ground. Five healthy souls gathered at the Tamar Trails Car Park having negotiated slippery roads and driveways to get there.
Taking the first left we descended steeply down uneven steps through the remains of the Bedford United Mine. Interesting holes and tunnels. Through beautiful mixed woodland. Still and quiet, very different to when it was working in the 1800’s.
Popping out on the nice wide path with icicles hanging from the rock face along the river past Blanchdown Farm. Then turning right onto an unmarked track we climbed up into the sun and out on to the bare arsenic spoil heaps. Lovely views over surrounding farm land but not a place to stop for coffee so on up to the main path to find a welcome bench. Then despite the dire warning of death we explored the Weal Anna Marie Calciner Complex.
Then on up to find Jon’s swing. Wonderful!
Back down for a quick stop at the Old Mine Office with a photo of my lovely, late next door neighbour Phil Hut who was head forester for the Duke of Bradford. He and the Earl developed the Bradford / Hut planting plan so that there was continuous cover in the forest despite regular commercial felling. He was a prisoner of the Japanese working on the Changi Railway in the war. An amazing man. He was determined to live to 104 like his mother but disappointingly died just before his 100th birthday.
Back to the car park in good time and on to a very nice lunch at the Blacksmiths.
Stella