Yesterday it snowed leaving around 1 cm on the ground, but then it was washed by rain. A clear night left a very heavy frost on the remnants, but with the sun shining we set out early (earlier than usual) to get through before everyone else came out of their cocoons.
The road was icy, and the verge crispy, as we headed down through the village to the cut through to the canal.
Down by Loxwood pond with the geese and ducks walking on the ice, the sun peeping over the trees.
Across the field - very frosted and up tot eh canal tow path - crunchy underfoot.
The light on the canal was brilliant as we continued down the well worn trail to Loxwood. The Devil's hole lock sitting serene in the early light.
We achieved the goal of beating the crowds as we only met a couple of joggers by the time we reached Brewhurst locak
Gradually warming up, as we passed Baldwins Knob lock, with a brilliantly sunny day.
Reflections in the stillness before the sharp turn approaching Drungewick.
Not everything was frozen ... we had to cross the overflow that drains into the river.
The Drungewick lock and where we left the towpath to head south down the road ... the canal goes over private land from here for a while and there is no towpath unfortunately.
This part of the walk follows the minor road past the kennels before turning off at Trenchmore farm ... the path follows the side of the houses and into the woods again ... now the path got muddy, with memories of last weeks walk flashing in our minds. The frost had not sufficiently got through the trees.
The track opened out into fields, freshly sown with grass. Eventually reaching the Malham estate - a large collection of farm buildings, and a cross road of tracks.
Here we took the farm drive as it wound up to the Newpound road. The road surface was still very frosty and we had to avoid the icy patches.
Up at the orad we cut up to the junction with Drungewick lane before crossing and taking the path going west. This track stuck to the wooded boundary of the fields and was back to the mud skipping.
The track then curved all the way around a large house before emerging onto the back road to Wisborough Green.
We crossed over and took the drive heading towards Wephurst park ... and the area of a number of our short walks.
There are some large cattle barns ... no longer used for cattle, where this drive crosses the parish boundary track we followed last week. This was a good place to sit on some tree roots and eat an early lunch.
From here we chose not to return up last weeks track, but to cut over to the next bridleway as it was less muddy.
Then up to Orchard cottage and back to the main road passed Ormond house.
This last section we were accompanied by another walker as the dogs socialised we talked across the track.
This part of the walk follows the minor road past the kennels before turning off at Trenchmore farm ... the path follows the side of the houses and into the woods again ... now the path got muddy, with memories of last weeks walk flashing in our minds. The frost had not sufficiently got through the trees.
The track then curved all the way around a large house before emerging onto the back road to Wisborough Green.
