We set off from the car park under Andy, the walking leader's directions. The walking club members take it in turn to plan and lead the walks. We were heading for the nature reserve at Wick and the quarry. There had been much heavy rain, so Andy had been careful to pick a route he hoped would not be too slippery! Our first challenge was a lovely muddy hill, we were pleased we had the walking poles. I manged to get covered in mud, so a good start. Ever onwards, we passed the rather posh looking Bury Manor Castle Hotel. Built in the Gothic revival style in the early 19th Century, it looked very grand. We skirted the edge of the hotel buildings and slipped through the kissing gate at the side.
Up and across the fields we went, passing some very calm looking sheep who watched our passing with mild curiosity before continuing with their snacking on the grassy hill. Some of the sheep were shaggier than others, obviously a different brand with the shaggier coats and curly horns. The goats have been introduced as part of a local project to help manage the grassland. No volunteers from our group for the post of goat herd, vacancy still open.
Upwards towards the quarry, which suddenly appeared on the horizon a huge blue green hole in the earth. 8.8 hectares of prime quarry land. The quarry continues with the mining of aggregates but is also being developed as a nature reserve. The irony of modern road development aiding natural conservation. We build bigger and more congested roads, whilst trying to preserve natural habitats. Home to peregrine falcons, nesting ravens and kestrels, the quarry is being managed sympathetically and gradually reverting to a more natural wild state. Encouraging the growth of rare species of flora and fauna has become a priority, as we build more and more roads.
The view from the top of the hill overlooking the quarry was breath taking, to think of the thousands of years it has been there. Nestling in the valley in the ancient woodlands, if only the stones could talk.
We continued on the walk taking in more of the natural wild life, the ostrich were a bonus. The strange banging noises they made sounded like African drums, perhaps they were drumming up the sun. Some hope!
After a refreshing coffee break we headed on towards the Ochre Works. Ochre is a fine mix of clay and iron oxide. Red ochre is formed when water filters through the minerals in the bedrock. The production of ochre was continued until the 1970's when the mine closed. Wick red ochre was used to colour The Mall around Buckingham Palace and exported all around the world for use in colouring many things. All the that remains now is the weir and the place where the factory stood. We climbed to the top of Ravens Rock and looked down on the tumbling River Boyd below. We didn't meet any of the bats that now nest here, guess they were having a snooze in the middle of the day. By night it is a place for at least ten species of bats which roost in the tunnels near the weir. One of our party did try the ochre as war paint, it worked too, lucky a bit of water got it off!
Looking down over the River Boyd. "There's signal crayfish in them waters!", it was too cold to investigate further. Daubenton Bats skim the waters at night.
We continued back down the path. A strange man watched through the trees with half an eye on the interlopers as they passed by.
Down through the magical red glen with red ochre on our boots. Perhaps following in the footsteps of the miners of long ago wending their way back to the pub after a long days labour in the mine. Certainly an interesting couple of hours and a walk we may try again on another day. We made it back to the cosy log burner in the Rose and Crown, the heavens opened and it poured with rally heavy rain. The wood spirits were certainly on our side.
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