Week 41 15/10/2014 - In a Rut as Autumn Colours Show

Photo Blog Week 41 - Wed 15 October 2014

The weather continued mild at Lyme Park. I've started carrying more clothes but, as yet, having needed to break out the heavy gear.

There are loads of people with big lenses at the moment trying to get the best shot of a Stag as the rut has begun and they are at their peak in appearance and, if really lucky, you may catch a head back shot as a stag roars to announce it's presence. Most activity goes on early and late but I was lucky enough to catch distant sights of several stags and hear some roars.
I made sure I took advantage of a walk behind the Hall through the Fallow Deer enclosure at that will close in a couple of weeks for the winter.

Autumn continues as the trees change and Park Moor puts on it's pale winter coat. Ever changing, ever beautiful.

route:  Main Car Park and Picnic areas; Drinkwater Meadow; Knightslow Wood; Lime Avenue; Main Car Park; Timberyard Cafe ((lunch)

Moorhen in picnic area near Mill Pond

Horse chestnut colours and bare branches in higher trees

Track from Main Car Park along Drinkwater Meadow to Knightslow Wood and Bowstones

Fallow Deer watching: A Fallow Deer feed station is the other side of the drystone wall beyond the trees by this track. They can often be seen either through the gate early on the track or by standing on the banking immediately by the wall which has many high patches allowing a view over the wall.

Silage is provided for winter feed

Fallow Deer are a Mediterranean species and in addition to silage, their winter diet is supplemented with corn and vitamins.

Grass path heading across Drinkwater Meadow. Cheshire plain beyond.

The Cage over Lyme Hall viewed from Knightslow Wood

Bright spots in the woods where a little sun is getting through a gap in the canopy

Beech woods will soon be turning yellow and gold, but not yet

Lime Avenue leading to Lyme Hall through the Fallow Deer enclosure.

'Lime' trees. Not the same spelling as 'Lyme' Hall.

Lyme Hall across Reflection Lake.

Fallow Deer enclosure CLOSING DATE 31st October 

Each year, the Fallow Deer enclosure is closed to the public for the Winter months to reduce stress in this Mediterranean species and to allow grass paths to recover. This means that the route from the Main Car Park across the back of the gardens (and this view) and over Hampers Bridge is not available. You have 2 weeks to enjoy this route and Lime Avenue. 

Lime Avenue from the Hall end

route: Main Car Park; Green Drive; The Cage; Coalpit Wood; East Lodge

Fungi fest'

Winter Hill as a misty backdrop to the urban sprawl

Please tell me you did play with these! Sycamore seed helecopters.

imposing angle on The Cage

Path from The Cage to East Lodge drive via the dip by Coalpit Wood

The Cage flag pole under inspection

The Cage flag pole has unfortunately been unusable due to problems with the rope and pulley system at the top of the 4-5m pole high on the roof . Hopefully soon to be usable again.

 

Large group of Red Deer in the Deer Sanctuary

Kinder Plateau with cloud sitting on the tops

 Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

This upright yellow plant is highly toxic to livestock and horses if it gets harvested into their feed. The toxicity is highly damaging to the liver and causes death.
Simply pulling the top off can cause it's root system to spread. When clearing skin should be covered to avoid contact as the poison can enter through the skin.

East Lodge

East Lodge is available as a Holiday Cottage. See East Lodge - National Trust Holiday Cottages.

route: East Lodge; Caters Slack; Park Moor; High View Point; Bowstonegate Farm entrance

Winter Hill as a misty backdrop with Beetham Tower (Hilton Hotel) standing out

fungi fest'

The imminent repair of the flag pole on The cage is all the more relevant for watchers of the Great British Bake Off who saw Luis's sugar representation which was topped off with a large flag on the pole.

Knightslow Wood canopy full of different shades as autumn develops

Deer Leap between Lantern Wood and Caters Slack

Red Deer from the Moor and Park herds are able to inter-mix using the Deer Leaps on opposite ends of Lantern Wood as a route.

Up onto Park Moor from Lantern Wood

panorama Northward from top of Cluse Hey by Lantern Wood (left)

You'd think it was spring!

The path reaches the top of Lantern Wood

Another mystery. This stone is just above Lantern Wood where paths intersect.

Looking back as I continue up to the direction finder at the high point of the park

Red Deer merging into the moor side

From the surrounding areas and the Main Car Park we are used to looking up to The Cage on high ground but here, at the top of Lyme Park, we look down onto Lyme Hall (.25 from left) and The Cage (.2 in from right)

I love the colour that Park Moor has now taken on.

In this shot, to left the ridge terminates in Sponds Hill and the Alderley Edge escarpment crosses the background.

I still have no information as to this old steel fencing - anyone?

Looking across Park Moor and Cluse Hey to Pursefield and Haze Bank Woods and Cheshire beyond.

route: Bowstonegate Farm entrance; Knightslow Wood (Moor wall path); Diagonal woodland path; Knights Low summit; Knightslow Quarry Drinkwater Meadow; Car Park (end)

There's a stag over that brow

Red Deer Stags Roaring on the moor

If this does not display properley on your device access the video on YouTube

The 'Roar' of the stags is an odd sound raising thoughts of: A sheep with a ridiculously deep voice; a wooden boat crunching into a jetty; a burst of a motorbike engine; a large gate with seized hinges.

What do you think?

Entrance to Knightslow Wood from Bowstonegate Farm track.

This was the location on the recent TV production The Village where the mass trespass was filmed.

I didn't watch this program but by chance saw a clip of that particular scene. The gate must have been temporarily changed for the shot as the bar format was different... and it got broken.

Tips of Beech trees beginning to colour

Path diagonally through Knightslow Wood

This path climbs to the high point in the Wood. Looking at maps from the mid 19th century, 'Knights Low' is written in a font representing a historical point of interest. Maybe this was a significant high point and view before the hill was wooded?

Blackberry brambles confused re season

Old Quarry in Knightslow Wood

Today's track and profile

Blue - morning; Magenta - afternoon

ignore 1st half mile elevation recording error

7.2 miles  5 hr 15 mn