The National Forest - still a forest in the making

I'm lucky to live somewhere near the heart of The National Forest - a forest in the making covering most of N W Leicestershire, South Derbyshire and East Staffordshire.

The forest is more than ten years old now, there are trees that are mature and even being harvested. But there are still new areas being added to the map. It seems that whenever I walk in this area, I come across new plantations. Here are just two new examples I've spotted this year.

South Derbyshire Three Viewpoints Walk

This walk could be called 'Two Reservoirs' or just 'Viewpoints Walk' because there are many more viewpoints than the three of the title, including views across both of South Derbyshire's reservoirs - Foremark and Staunton Harold

One benefit of the rainy weather we've had this year is that the water levels are nice and high.

This is one of the first, if not the first, that I devised and I've walked it many times. It felt good to tread the 14 miles of South Derbyshire again today, I have neglected my hobby this year, a downside of the rainy weather!

More pictures from today's walk are here on Flickr

And more information about the route including a map is here at uk-walks.info

Rutland Water full circular route 2012

One of my favourite places to walk, Rutland Water. I've devised several circular walks close to the reservoir and I like to do the full circular walk once a year, which I did in July this year (2012)

You have the option of walking around the reservoir, officially 17m, or you can add the Hambleton Peninsula route, officially making 26m. However I've measured these routes and found them much shorter (I believe the full walk with the peninsula is more like 21).

Either way, it's difficult to lose your way - the paths are mostly surfaced and well-signed. The views are beautiful and the walking includes waterside, woodland, lanes and villages.

More photos from this walk in July 2012 are here

I've published more information about the full circular Rutland Water route here

This time I made a video while walking - take a turn around the reservoir with me!

Lathkill Dale 2012

Lathkill Dale is beautiful and I love doing this walk in the Spring, when there's lots of colour and the leaves are just out. Besides the dale itself, the walk takes in woodland, villages, open fields and lanes.

This is one of my favourite photos ever. People visit Lathkill Dale just for this waterfall (there are many other beautiful views!) I was unprepared and took this without a tripod or any special equipment, or much knowledge of slow exposure photos. From memory it was about 1/20 sec with the camera pressed against a rock.

More of my pictures of this walk taken in May 2012 here

I've published two versions of this walk, shorter (11.5m) and longer (17.5m) - find them both listed on my Derbyshire and Peak District walks and take your pick!