Walk leader: Andrea Foster

Number on Walk: 11 plus 1 dog

Distance: 8 miles

Weather: mainly dry and sunny but rain to start 

Starting at the Three sisters nature reserve, there was a little bit of history to start the day (who were the ugly sisters?) learning about the coal mining past of this site and Garswood Hall Colliery.  There was a visit from the Queen here in May 1968 to mark the governments' 'operation spring clean' and the race track and nature reserve finally opened to the public in 1974. 

As we set off walking, down came the rain. Thankfully this was short lived. We continued on our route to Virador woods, crossing the A58 and passing under the railway bridge we took the grassy lane that runs parallel to the railway tracks. On reaching Bamfurlong we took the Leeds Liverpool canal tow path in the direction of Leigh and paused for lunch along the canal bank, soaking up the sun. Heading back we passed the now sadly decayed remains of the Dover Lock pub and then over the fields back through to Virador woods circling the other side and returning to meander through the Three sisters nature reserve to our starting point. A simple route but our sightings of wildlife along the way brightened the day (a heron, cormorant, buzzard, lots of ducks and ducklings, and we wished for a kingfisher but saw none).

Having made good time there was time to spare for a coffee and a natter at the Hamlet cafe in the nature reserve. Thank you to all those who attended for your company and conversation.