Sunday 8th May 2011 Forest of Dean, Glos

This was a charity even for three charities (including Ryan's school - Milestone) with a 25 mile bike ride, 10 mile walk and a 3 mile jaunt for trikes, buggies etc. Ryan did the 3 miler...


The walk was billed as a 10 mile walk by the charity event, 3CC but in fact I measured it at just under 6 miles with my GPS so unless we short-cutted or missed something on the map, then we under did it! In any case the walk took just over two hours through wonderful forest undergrowth, following trails with more bluebells than I have ever seen.


3 Children's Charity Event, Forest of Dean

I got a lift at 08:30 from Leckhampton with Robin and Martin who were doing the 25 mile bike ride. We loaded up Robin's van with bikes and bags and got to Beechenhurst Lodge at about 09:15 ready for the start. We registered and set of, map in hand fully expecting a four hour walk. Once I found my bearings from the map (and following other walkers!), we left the main track and started through the trees with the drizzle just starting. 

We crossed the main Speech House Road and entered the forest again, with bluebells all around. The rain stopped and the sun came out - happy days! I teamed up with a couple who were keen to chat and who were making a very good pace and so together we progressed 'through the field' heading south along well defined paths towards Parkend.


Before reaching Parkend, we took a right and entered the Nagshead RSPB reserve and made use of the visitor facilities, removing wet weather gear and taking on fluids.


Nagshead RSPB Reserve

We went through the reserve which was very well organised, passing binocular carrying 'twitchers' on the way. Leaving the reserve, we passed the stone works and followed the left bank of a fishing lake and we moved north back to the starting point. Again the lake was very well organised, picturesque with fishing 'slots' clearly marked and small jetties provided. We passed several serious looking anglers, stopping to 'ooh and ahh' at the baby duck chicks along the way before we crossed the lake at the northern end by a short wooden footbridge. We quickly found our previous outgoing track and retraced our steps back to the Speech House Road, passing Ryan and Sarah on the way, before finding our starting point and checking in with the organisers.


Coffee and hot dogs were waiting and I spent a very pleasant hour or so while I waited for the others (including Ryan) to finish - but got burnt in the process!


An OS view of the walk is below in three sections, courtesy of QUO digital mapping/OS: