This is a regular walk of mine and one that I always enjoy immensely, usually as part of a longer loop starting and ending at home. One of the things I like is that the walk can be varied depending on how you feel or how much time you have: the shortest loop hugs the shore, starting and finishing at the pub – always a good feature of any walking route.
The path begins wide, running past the dam overflow and on towards the boat club. Once through the gate into the woods the path becomes narrower as it meanders closer to the water’s edge, and what always strikes me is the quiet; despite the close proximity of two major roads and a railway line the noise seems to melt away to be replaced by birdsong and the rustling of Squirrels darting among the leaves on the ground or the branches above. Blackbirds, Robins, Finches, Wrens and Wagtails dart in and out of the shrubbery, cheekily flying down to land beside you, as if checking you out, and completely unperturbed by human presence, and the trees themselves offer protection from the heat of the sun in the summertime as well as the bitterness of the wind in winter and add their own music to the sound of nature.
Along the banks, fishermen while away the hours with their wide array of equipment, seeming to soak in the peace and quiet from around them. Dog walkers also enjoy the paths, as do their furry friends, and I have seen many a dog taking a dip in the water. In the summertime, young people can be found swimming from a small sandy beach (although this is not recommended) and cyclists enjoy the challenge of the twisty paths criss-crossed with tree roots. If I have made it seem a busy place, this is far from the truth, and in winter I can walk the whole path hardly meeting a soul.
At the furthest end of the lake a victorian arched viaduct houses a path which takes you across the marshy shallows where swans and moorhens can often be seen nesting. The return along the opposite shore is often muddy and there are two paths to choose from, one lower down near the water whilst the other is drier but higher up. I usually take the lower muddy path as it is quieter and I can avoid the road noise for a little longer.
If I have more time I take the longer route up through ‘The Goyt’, a narrow tree-lined ravine running away from the lake. The path narrows even further running alongside a burbling stream and crossing wooden bridges several times before emerging into farmland. From here there are several options: usually I walk back through the fields towards the lake and pick up the path again at the bridge, but sometimes I take the much longer route through Billinge and across to Crank, returning across the farmer’s fields at Windle Island.
Whichever route is taken and whatever the season, it is a lovely walk. I have heard that walking beneath trees is particularly good for mental wellbeing and that the level of the stress hormone, cortisol, is lower when walking in nature. What better reason to immerse yourself in nature and take in your surroundings through all five senses for better health, happiness and a sense of calm.
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