Jo’s Monday walk : Hetton Lyons Country Park

The choices this week were another boring beach walk in the sunny Algarve, or a quick romp in the frozen north east of England.  Well, it’s no contest, is it?  Grab your scarf and mittens, and no loitering, please!  Except to feed the swans.

There’s a crisp beauty to it, as the frost nibbles at your ears and glistens on grass and fences.  Distant dog walkers embrace the morning air.

Out past the barn, I head towards the windmills, on a narrow lane.  A public footpath crosses the fields, the frozen earth firm underfoot.  Patterns abound, all etched in white, whilst solid puddles of ice line the path.

Despite the sun, the ice persists, tingling the toes, yet some of the fields are surprisingly green.  The blades whirr noisily above my head.

Fronds of bracken huddle beneath the hedge, the occasional, lucky one gilded by sunlight.  A forbidding, firmly-locked gate denies access.  No matter, as the country park lies straight ahead, just beyond the farmhouse.

The small pond is frozen solid, but most of the lake is clear and sparkling.  A path skirts the shore and the swans glide hopefully forwards.

There is a small cafe if you need a warm up afterwards.  As we drove through Hetton I saw a sign for homemade broth.  Sounded like a good idea!

I think the sign was on Market Street, but I was distracted by the mural.  Hope you didn’t get too cold walking with me.  I still have a few warm Algarve images that I may get to share with you before I go, but this is my last walk for a couple of weeks.

Many thanks for all your wonderful shares.  Please take a little time to read the following walks, especially if it’s someone you don’t know.  You may find a new friend.  There are lots this week but I’ll be in the Algarve for a few weeks, so you can make them last.  Once I get settled I hope to be back out with you again.

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Let’s start with a little stunning alpine scenery from Drake :

From a peak

And here’s a fair bit of the white stuff from Anabel too!

The Birks of Aberfeldy (and other walks)

You birders will love this!  Take a walk in the wild with Lisa :

In Search of the Endangered Slaty Becard- (and finding so much more!)

Dom hosts a regular walk feature on Wandsworth Radio.  Why not have a listen?

Walking Wandsworth Episode 6- Battersea Arts Centre

And you could munch along with Jackie while you do :

Comfort foods

“One of the most glorious landscapes I’ve ever been fortunate to have hiked in”, says Nicole :

A Magical Hike in Chile’s Parque Andino Juncal

Kathrin’s in a very happy place and I think you’ll like it too :

Hopfen am See aka my Happy Place

‘There’s gold in them there hills!”  Well, there was once, wasn’t there, Carol?

The Ten Dollar Town

You can just picture Pauline and Jack, having fun with all these folks!

Meandering in Uki Market

Lady Lee is back from her holidays.  You might be jealous!

New Year’s Eve and Day in Manila

Cornwall can still compete with most places, if the weather behaves.  In French, and English :

Hike around Lizard Point, England

And while we’re down that way, a sort of revisit, from Jude :

Garden Portrait : The Lost Gardens of Heligan Part 1

This time last year I was getting very excited about a trip to Tuscany.  Thanks for the memories, Woolly!

Jo’s-Monday-Walk-Wk49_Pisa

This year I’m just days away from an extended stay in the Algarve.  Thanks for a lovely reminder, Becky :

There’s a pig loose

And just to thoroughly spoil you, here’s that warm beach walk I know you fancied, courtesy of Meg :

An early morning walk and an act of gross disloyalty

Lovely skies here this morning but still slippy stuff on the ground.  Take care out there!  I’ll be keeping an eye an you, and I’ll let you know when I’m walking again.  Bye for now!

 

124 comments

  9. I love the idea of walking in the crisp, cold air with crackling frost underfoot, but oh dear! when it comes to the reality, I pull my nose back in, pull off the boots, and return to the creature comforts of my kitchen with a mug of coffee. Pathetic, I know. However, I’m cheered to know that there are hardy folk like you out there, willing to suffer so that I can enjoy some fabulous pictures and thoroughly engage with your prose and pretend I would, if only …………. Another brilliant walk. I shall do one in the warmer weather – well, I hope to do one!

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  11. I love a country walk when it’s dry and frosty with blue sky and sunshine but here at the moment it’s been anything but for quite a while. Wind, rain, snow which disappears within an hour or two, rain, sleet, grey skies, more rain, and everywhere is just so muddy – the dogs and I haven’t had a decent walk for ages so it was nice to come along with you if only in theory 🙂

    I love the first photo of the swans, and that mural is certainly very eye-catching 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Eunice. It’s so depressing when you can’t get out for a decent walk, isn’t it? Ours has been cancelled today because it’s too slippy for us oldies. 🙂 🙂

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  12. Brisk, invigorating walk you have taken us on Jo. The sun is deceptively bright, but I bet it is still cold. I really enjoyed this last walk you have left us with for a while. Enjoy the Algarve and I will wait patiently for you to come back

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    1. I’m a bit disappointed because our walk this morning has been cancelled. Surfaces too slippy for elderly joints. Will watch a bit more tennis then me and Mick will go slippy sliding… gently 🙂 🙂 Have a great week!

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      1. We had snow yesterday but it was the wet and dreary sort, and looks to have gone now. You and Mick take care slippy-sliding. I know you will. And the afternoons are getting longer…

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  18. Gorgeous walk but am glad that I did this one from the comfort of my armchair and will be doing a boring sunny one on the beach for real later this afternoon 😉

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  19. Pingback: Night in anticipation | Le Drake Noir

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