Photo Blog Week 23 - Wed 14 May 2014
A gorgeous day be in Lyme Park. The sky a mix of white cumulus clouds and big areas of blue delivering a generally sunny bright day with the added interest of shadows. In several areas, skylarks are fluttering high in the air adding a delightful soundscape with their song.
The greens of spring are vivid and everywhere and among them many wild flowers add highlights and interest. The bluebells are at peak along Westpark drive delivering a sweet perfume when to windward.
Not sure where the Red Deer got to today, I saw some of the park herd up on Cage Hill as I drove in but didn't see any more groups, only a couple of loners later on.
route: from North face of Hall; follow Green Drive; continue straight onto track dropping to: Main Drive down to Admissions; Follow Bollinghurst Brook toward reservoirs; small tracks to Coalpit Wood
The lady with the little girl enhance the delight of the sun dappled Green Drive
Manchester through the trees from Cage Hill above the main drive
Same angle as previous photo but zoomed in. Beetham Tower a third in from left
The Cage
Descending track from Cage Hill toward Admissions with classic loan oak
Kinder Plateau in distance
Deer Sanctuary
Part of today was completing the boundary survey going into the back of the deer santuary which is off limits so please don't be tempted to explore this part of my route. Apart from that, it was boggy, fly filled and generally not very nice across the back of coalpit wood.route: boundary fence / wall through back of Coalpit Wood and around boundary of Red Deer Sanctuary (NO PUBLIC ACCESS).
Narrow fly filled muddy progress along Boundary fence in Coalpit Wood
Reservoir wall with is castellated top
Over the wall in private fishing pond, Mum & Dad Canadian Geese with 4 little'uns
Change in wall character from more recent commercially (left) built to original boundary wall
route: from East Lodge follow track; cross stile into Caters Slack; follow right track to squeezer stile into bottom of Lantern Wood; exit wood to Turf House Meadow ; join track and follow Garden fence; cross Hampers Bridge; follow path through Hampers Wood to view of Hall
Simple stile into Caters Slack
Two Red Deer on Turf House Meadow
New antlers growing with velvet lit by the sun
Peacock Butterfly on dandelion
Great Spotted Woodpecker on fence by Archery Field
(Rather pleased with getting this pic')
(Rather pleased with getting this pic')
Dozing in the warm afternoon sun
Fallow Deer browsing on fresh grass
As you follow the path from Hampers Wood this superb aspect of the hall appears
route: follow Lime Avenue to Knightslow Wood; follow track to Drinkwater Meadow gate; stay in wood and follow track to Cluse Hey; take wall path above Cluse Hey to Paddock Cottage
Knightslow Wood lights up when the sun shines on the new spring beech leaves
Lyme Hall and The Cage with the Pennine Moors high in the background
The sheep are back in Drinkwater Meadow for the summer. Dogs on leads please!
Cluse Hey now full of foliage
I have always liked this path high above Cluse Hey along the wall bounding Drinkwater Meadow.
This goes from Knightslow Wood to Paddock Cottage.
Bluebells against stone wall
route: descend via track from Paddock Cottage; join Westpark Drive; follow side path in wood to The Knott
Below Paddock Cottage, the remaining rhododendrons are bursting into flower
Sadly, the image doesn't show them but today the Welsh hills could be clearly seen as a final layer
Swathes of aromatic bluebells are at their peak above West Park drive
route: The Knott Car Park; climb up the knoll; descend to Four Winds boundary wall; follow track circling Turtle Brew; follow path around Mill Pond toward Timberyard
Skylarks were twittering away high above near Four Winds but I could only capture this Meadow Pipit on the ground
Turtle Brew - It isn't clear through the trees but before it was so wooded the contour of the top looks like a turtle's shell
Horse Chestnut in full blossom
route: Around Mill Pond; enter Crow Wood at side of Cottages; follow track straight to boundary; track uphill along Boundary fence; return via Playscape
Nature's Artwork
The tape cordons have been removed in Crow Wood now that the tree surgeons have dealt with the unstable Scots Pine dislodged in the high winds
Nice shot! This is the gap they brought a very large tree down through
Buttercups have now joined the colour palette of the Park
Ever wonder what happened to the amazing fungi of autumn/winter?
Some still survive though dried out and colourless
Crow Wood Play scape
Crow Wood Playscape is excellent for adventurous kids and parent who encourage them
route: Between pond and Timberyard and return to Car Park
The Mill Pond ducks having a good day
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