Michelle

Derwent Walk Visitor Centre (Swalwell) – Derwent Walk – Hollinside Manor – Nine Arches Viaduct – Puddock Hill Wood – Thornley Woodlands Centre – Thornley bird hide – Clockburn Lake – Red Kite Inn – Damhead – Swalwell.

At least it wasn't raining. Quite a bit of sunshine, cloudless at times. A bright interlude between days of heavy rain.

Michelle, Michael, Ron, George and guest Roger.

Usual holiday commitments

The walk was put back to the 27th December on account of the heavy rain on the 26th, although we met for the meal on the evening of the 26th.

We were joined by Roger, who gave us the benefit of his bird watching expertise. Everyone and their dog were out for a stroll or run – negative points for the number of people although in mitigation it was the first decent day for a while. The car park was choc-a-bloc.

Hollinside Manor offered good views and interesting history. The paths were very muddy away from the old railway line. We had our lunch just past the viaduct, then turned off the railway line and climbed up through the woods where we saw a pink rhododendron in full bloom. Then we found a series of sculptures carved into tree trunks – otter, hare, woodpecker, toadstool and a tree man. We also saw a live red admiral butterfly near here. We crossed the main road and walked the short distance to Thornley bird hide, but saw very little activity.

We became separated at Clockburn Lake, and re-united in the Red Kite Inn where we enjoyed a nice beer.

Lots of birdlife: Red kite, flocks of redwings, chaffinches and yellowhammers and a charm of goldfinches.. Tree creeper, nuthatch, greenfinch, jay, magpie, grey heron, cormorant, blue tit, great tit, coal tit, bullfinch, moorhen and a song thrush.

Swan Inn at Heddon (on 26 December 2015, joined by Sandy, Beth and Evelyn). Carvery a bit dry. Not enough custard with the crumble.

Most Boxing Day walkers

Ruined Manor

Viaduct from Hollinside

Hollinside Manor

Rhododendron

Wooden toadstool

Otter

Hare

Woodpecker