We let Ron off the lead for the whole of the walk. He had a great time. By the end of the 45min stroll, he was still chipper with not a sign of a limp.
A wide, well-signed, hard-surfaced track with benches on which to rest, runs through the middle of the wood.
Benches marked in red, information signs in blue. |
In order to walk a 'loop', we had to take a slightly narrower track leading up to Gibbet Hill and alongside the chalk grasslands at the top. Plans are underway to re-introduce English Longhorn cattle onto the grassland. There was evidence of more fencing with 'kissing gates' to prevent the cattle straying onto the steep slopes of the woods, and water-troughs are already in place.
This track was very steep at times (MWNN said a few degrees more and we would need climbing ropes).
Then it was back, via a connecting track, to the main path.
The newly-created nature reseve is certainly a place to consider walking on a hot summer's day. Yesterday, there was quite a stiff breeze but it was mild and the woods provided plenty of shelter.