On the Moors

Today, on a very wet day which also happens to be our 55th wedding anniversary, we decided to take a drive to the moors despite the drizzle. It was quite misty and difficult to take photos as the rain fell, but we enjoyed the change of scenery.  Once out of the car I could hear the distinctive cry of curlews, saw birds flying high in the sky and a pheasant.

Strines Reservoir and the derelict Boot's Folly

The area still looks green. Flocks of sheep were grazing here and there and we did spot a couple who had wandered onto the road. Thankfully most of them were contained within the fencing and drystone walls.

There are a one or two farms in the area and this quirky looking house nestled in a woody hollow.

Back down in Bradfield Dale and the outskirts of Low Bradfield Village

we stopped by the reservoir keeper's house.

I was glad that I had walked by the reservoir on a day when it was drier.

Joie de Vivre roses in our front garden

Thank you for your visit and I hope you have a peaceful weekend.  We shall be going to our local daughter's home and will continue celebrating our wedding anniversary and Father's Day on Sunday.

A Walk by Damflask Reservoir

At last I've managed to go a little further for my morning walk as it was dry and warm enough to get to Damflask Reservoir.

I began my walk by the retaining wall at the head of the reservoir, started walking to the right and then decided against it when I saw quite a few people going that way as it's a popular trail. To the left there's the possibility of walking along the pavement of a quieter, shadier road or on the trail path with many entrance gaps in the hawthorn hedge where one can wander freely. 

I thought it would make a change to walk the other way towards the reservoir keeper's house although it's always more shady because the path follows around by high wooded hills and, therefore, much darker for taking photos.

Looking over the retaining wall I saw quite a number of ducks swimming across the water almost in formation.

A grassy area leads back towards a bridge which is the outlet from the reservoir into the local river. Beyond the grass there's a steep drop to the reservoir below.

What shocked me was the fact that all this area is usually full of water, but at the moment the old structure of the graduated steps that usually create a little waterfall and the stone blocks that form the floor of the reservoir were completely exposed due to the recent dry Springtime.

Above is what this area usually looks like. It's a place where the ducks and geese usually congregate.

I walked back towards the reservoir keeper's house and garden.  It looks attractive with fuschia and weigela hedges around the property, ducks wandering about on the lawns since they have easy access to the water.

Across the reservoir are the farms up on the hills and the path to the yacht club where I usually walk. In fact you can walk all around the reservoir ending up in Low Bradfield village.

Some wild flowers I saw along the way - bramble, white and pink clover, dog rose, yellow vetch.

A road takes you high up above the reservoir or you can stay on the lower road to get to the village or to the moors.

Among the oak tree woods is another outlet from the reservoir which leads to Agden Beck and then Agden Reservoir.

Thank you for coming by.  I hope your week is going well.  It looks as if the weather is improving again after a week of rain showers.  My plan is to get out-and-about as much as possible.