Wolsingham, Tunstall Reservoir Circular

Date:                    Sunday, 6th November 2011
Start/Finish:          Demesne Picinc Area, Wolsingham
Distance:              8.2 miles
Time Taken:          4.5 hours
Companion(s):       None

Route Map:

Even though I really knew I wanted and needed to get out for a walk today, it took me quite some time to get my motivation together to get going.  However, I did eventually get going and, even though that meant I had to shorten the planned route due to the prospect of it being dark by 4pm, nothing other than the late start spoiled my day :-)

This being 6th November 2011, I was surprised to find that the weather was so bright and warm....for once the forecasters were correct!  However, I still had to start the walk with the fleece on as I wasn't quite warm enough to risk going without at this stage in the day :-)

Heading out from the car park I followed the paths alongside Waskerley Beck for a while, passing the little waterfalls of The Sills on the way...

...them I headed across a few fields....

....and a footbridge....(you will notice the first of many of my shadows in the photos!).....

...and then crossing field again and admiring the views....

...until I came to the road and the track leading to Fawnlees Hall....

It was now time to enter the Park Wall Plantation and simply follow the track to the gate and then make a right turn and follow the path to the most humongous stile I've ever seen (which I didn't happen fo photograph - I think the shock must have got to me lol) ....

Anway, once having negotiated the huge stile...I took a short rest stop here and enjoyed the views....

Continuing on my way, I finally got my first glimpse of Tunstall Reservoir....

 

....and continued to follow the field paths which would lead me to my next destination....

Once I had joined the road near the dam, navigation was easy as I followed a circuit of the reservoir....the weather and the autumn colours were amazing.....

Now entering the oak woodland oath on the eastern side of the reservoir to begin the return journey to Wolsingham.....

...and then heading out of the woodland and back up onto the higher ground at the edges of Wolsingham North Moor.....

You climb just high enough to get brilliant views of the reservoir looking down and back....

....but we have to continue on our way back to Wolsingham.....

I've just come through the gate in the next photo and I can tell you, the ground on the other side is extremely wet, muddy and boggy...

However, the views looking back and all around are still wonderful....

Unusually, the last leg of my route takes me through a crop field....but, en-route, I can't resist attempting to get a photo of the Elephant Trees which I can see on the distant horizon.....

There was a handy bench seat at this point.....where, if I'm honest, I could have stayed for rather a long time....just savouring the moment and the scenery....but, the sun was now going down and I knew I had a little way to go before I would get back to my car....

Such a shame I had to do this walk on my own..........it would have been wonderful to share it with someone.   Never mind, just an excuse to return again at another time :-)