Ah, the crisp smell of winter walking. I love walking in winter, and although I tend not to do big distances given the early sun down, there is loads of opportunity to do some great routes with all the breathtaking views made somehow even more glorious with a nip of cold, a blustery day and followed up with a hot cuppa.
I did two great routes over the Christmas break, one local and one away. Let's start with the far away....
Sefton Coast
I've written about walking the Sefton Coast Path before; my brother and his family live up that way and I often make a terrible guest of myself by disappearing off for a few hours to soak up the local paths on offer. Previously I have started from Formby and headed north towards Southport and Blackpool, so this time I plotted a 15km yomp southwards, which took me about 3 hours in all.
The day was sunny, chilly and very, very blustery, great walking conditions and, as you will see, ideal for this walk. I sallied forth from my brother's gaff, initially with my estimable parents in tow, headed towards Formby Point via Lifeboat Road. Lifeboat Road beach is the most accessible and usually busiest bit of Formby Point but that detracts not one whit from its breathaking beauty as you rise up over the dunes to see the Irish Sea and massive expanse of sand ahead of you. The wind was whipping over the flat, stirring loose sand into swirling djinn-like patterns that formed ridges closer to the waterline. What a way to start!
I turned south, leaving the 'rents behind, and headed down the coast towards Crosby. It would have been delightful to just hug the shoreline the whole way down but alas, the MoD had other ideas with their whopping great firing range right in the way. So, at the point at which I was warned of imminent bodily injury if I continued (backed up with the sound of actual gun fire and a bored looking sentry atop a dune) I took a left turn inland, tracking the edge of firing range until I met up with the England Coast Path (or 'King Charles III England Coast Path' as it is these days). This took me south again, sharing the route with a cycle way, following the railway line and passing along the length of the firing range which to me looked mostly like pine woods. With guns, obvs.
On the edge of Hightown I was once again able to cut down towards the sea. A short path behind house brought me out next to a small marina on a small creek reaching inland. Reminiscent of some of my recent Kent adentures! Continuing beyond the built up area I joined a narrow path that eventually brought me out onto more dunes, udulating ahead. The England Coast Paths cuts through the dunes like a serpent lying across the land, eventually giving way to a promenade along the sea at Blundellsands.
I followed the promenade towards Brighton-le-Sands, meadering between dogs walkers, all of us being blown about by gusty winds and sprayed with misted seawater blowing in from the high peaks of waves being pushed against the shore. Very refreshing!
My purpose at this stage was to push onto towards the famous 'Another Place', a spectacular sculptural installation by Anthony Gormley consisting of 100 cast-iron life size figures scattered across Crosby beach, all looking out to sea. My timing was rubbish as the tide was well in so most of the figures were submerged. I grabbed a cup of tea at a well place tea van and wandered further down the promenade in the hope I might at least catch a glimpse of a head above a wave. I was not disappointed; the figures nearest the promenade were visible to their waists as the sea pulled out and were then submerged beneath the waves pounding the shoreline. Despite the high tide, the power of the installation was not lost. Anthony Gormley describes the work as "harness[ing] the ebb and flow of the tide to explore man's relationship with nature". I felt that almost viscerally looking at these figures. Small in relation to the expansive landscape in which they are situated, battered by wind and sea, but still standing, looking expectantly out to 'another place'.
From another place I wondered up to the train station, via a Co-op for a quick sarnie, and got the excellent Merseyrail service back to Formby. 15km well spent I felt, with all my favourite things about coastal walks, finished with a fabulous piece of art. Winning.
Ouse Valley
Back down south for a post Christmas 'blow the cobwebs away'.....
Post Christmas and almost at the end of the obligatory winter holiday cold; time to work off some of that cheese and wine and head out to the great yonder. I fancied something different from my usual circulars so hopped on the train from Gatwick to alight at Balcombe hoping to take in the Ouse Valley Viaduct and Ardingly reservoir.
Its easy to access the relevant footpaths from the station but the recent heavy rain had left things very boggy. Thankfully, Father Christmas had brought me a spanky new coat to go with my almost-welly-boot-kind-of-waterproof boots and I was amply protected against the vagaries of December weather.
The first 5km were over arable land, down small wooded tracks and occasional farm tracks to finally emerge at the top of a hill by a farm house with a view over the Ouse Valley viaduct.
In a typical day, roughly 110 trains roll across this magnificent structure crossing the River Ouse. The 1,480-foot-long railway bridge is composed of 37 arches rising nearly 100 feet above the river valley. Long celebrated for its architectural elegance, the Ouse Valley Viaduct has needed quite a bit of upkeep since its 1841 opening. Many of the roughly 11 million bricks used in the original bridge were replaced as early as the 1890s in hopes of strengthening the structure. Don't worry, its plenty sturdy these days!
Passing under the viaduct I crossed the River Ouse and picked up the path that followed the river eastwards. Crossing a footbridge to the opposite bank the path follows a slope upwrads before diverting to the left, weaving through bracken and heather to eventually emerge on the hardstanding looking out over the Ardingly reservoir from the southern end. This whole bit would have been much more enjoyable without an epic downpour of biblical proportions. Even my spanky new coat wasn't quite up to the task and I got soaked through (although feet remained reliably dry!). But it didn't last long and the sun soon poked through the lowering clouds to give a spectacular view across the water.
There is an excellent path around the whole body of water, with views across the water, strolls through woodland and local history highlights in the form of the old mill. Its such a lovely spot and pretty peaceful as well.
From the mill you head up steep steps and a wide field before entering onto the mean streets of Balcombe. The town itself is bigger than you imagine, but it only take 20 minutes to traverse it's width and descend to the small station so well connected to Gatwick.
Overall this walk was 12km and took me about 2.5 hours. Stout boots recommended in the winter!
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