This Weeks Group Walk.....Number 15

Hello Lovelies,

 Thursday was the last day of the school spring term around here. I knew it would be the last group walk that I could attend till the Easter break was over and I was really hoping for nice weather.

The forecast was cloud,  yet as we set off there might not have been clear skies but there were certainly shadows.........

The walk leader ( who was wearing wellies) warned us of the boggy conditions. There were puddles, which was hardly surprising after all the rain last week, but generally the conditions underfoot were ok.

It was such a beautiful day....and, joy of joys, there was no wind..........

We passed a tidy farm..... where, now I'm looking back through these images, I'm pretty sure the white van belonged to a mobile farrier..........

As we walked along the path everyone commented on the huge horses hoof prints along it. I should have taken a photo with my hand for a guide to the size , they were massive....maybe 10 inches across or more.

As I dropped to the back of the group, enchanted by the views here, I gazed back towards the farm and saw who probably made those prints..........

A beautiful Shire horse.....such magnificent creatures...........

Aware I was holding up the back marker, I hurried to catch up with the group....and then stopped again to photograph another pretty view of where we were heading.

"There's the church", said the chap who was making sure nobody got left behind....."and the Abbey"......

what church and what Abbey?....I could see neither

We caught up with the group again as we travelled through pretty woodland..........

Where the fresh green shoots of Bluebell leaves grew at the base of huge old trees.........

How I loved the views here.........and the palest blue  sky with wispy white clouds...........

Leaving the woodland we approached a cluster of gorgeous old buildings.........

it was such a charming spot..........

And when we entered a sunlit churchyard I was still confused where the church actually was.........

Squinting into the sunlight and talking to other members of the walking group I realised the building here was the church....and a house ....a house church, or maybe a church  house?.......

Whatever you call it, it was an idyllic spot to sit on a low stone wall and eat a picnic..........

After the chilly winter picnics we have endured throughout the winter this one seemed like a precious gift.

 Sitting chatting in the warm sunshine , watching a Buzzard ride the thermals rising in the clear still sky and enjoying a yummy gift of Easter chocolate to finish off my picnic. Wonderful.

All too soon it was time to move on. We passed squat stone cottages..........

and soon came to the huge arch, which is all that remains of an Abbey that was once here.......

It seemed amazing that it was still standing in isolation, resisting all the elements for so many years.

Close to here were a heard of small black sheep, they seemed to fit right in with the pretty, old fashioned setting.......

I think they may be THIS bread

As we walked past stunning mature trees I wondered how many more weeks they would look like this......surely they will be turning green soon..........

 This little cottage garden amused me....it looked like the sort of place where nothing goes to waste. Things some would consider to be junk were made useful or simply decorative, again..........

The car seat deck chairs made me smile.

By now we were nearing the end of our seven and a half mile walk. We had negotiated some mud, but nothing too bad.

As we approached this field our cheerful leader told us this was the "best bit" with a twinkle in his eye........

Gosh it was muddy, in multiple places. People braved barb wire, hung onto gates and balanced on logs to try and avoid it, but wellies were certainly the best footwear here!

But the mud certainly didn't ruin this walk for me. In fact I was sad when it ended. Walking is such a wonderful escape and this first really mild group walk of the year was a special one. 

This peaceful spot will remain in my minds eye for a long time.........

Jacquie x

Edited to Add....THIS is where we walked through, in case any of you lovelies were wondering.
J x