The Whittlestone Walk

Firstly Happy Easter weekend and it's been a beautiful day for this Bank Holiday Monday. The last walk only had a few people on it for different reasons and I thought it would be similar today, but I was wrong!!! A brilliant group of 14 of us set off on a walk with the usual added bit just to make it longer.

The walk should start at Victoria Park and is 5 miles but I started the walk from my front door today and with a few minor detours and added extras we turned it into a 8 mile walk. To see how it should be done have a look at the link - The Whittlestone Walk

From Victoria Park we headed behind the back of Manor Floods walking parallel to the Nutbrook Trail before crossing over fields heading towards Mapperley. One field definitely cleared everybody's nostrils with a very "country" fragrance.

Shipley Wood in the distance.

 

We then entered Mapperley Wood and followed the instructions to the letter!! "Go through gate and continue straight on through the wood to a pedestrian gate on the far edge of the wood." Not the best idea as the wood was more a bog after last nights rain and how none of us ended up face first in the mud I don't know. We had Lauren almost loose a welly in a deep section, Simon having major mud splash up the legs and Linda had an over flowing boot.

 

Linda and Mother contemplating how to cross the first of 3 obstacles.

 

Once past the unexpected muddy section it should have been simple if not for the lack of "No.6" signage and loads of talking and not much map reading. We ended up on High Lane walking back towards The Newdigate, the right direction but wrong path. But it did allow us to have a nice sit down, enjoy the sun and a quick refreshment. Then it was down the path at the side to re-join the correct route and head back along the old railway embankment until we joined the Nutbrook Trail.

So the route took us just shy of 13km bringing us to a total of 93km so far this year from nice little group walks. It's been such a good experience and so enjoyable spending time with clients doing something so simple and seeing the pleasure they get from it.

 

Walking can help with health and fitness but this year I'm taking part in the Isle of Wight Challenge. 56km of walking/jogging in a day. I'm doing this for Cancer Research UK so hopefully walking can help save lives too please visit - www.justgiving.com/adamfretwellpt