Wednesday 30th April Lopwell Dam

I have commented before how the two walking groups often do the same walk within weeks of each other.  In nearly five years of living back in Devon I did my first group walk from Lopwell Dam at the beginning of April and here we are starting from the same place again. But, this is a walk you can never tire of doing.

On the bank opposite the car park there were four Canadian Geese.
Two of them decided to swim across and say hello!
Just a bit further along on the other side was a Heron and an Egret.
On the banks of the car park were these beautiful cowslips and...
...bluebells and we hadn't even started walking!
















So off along the bank of the Estuary and the tide was in.

Past lots of red campian and...
...lots of wild garlic with that intoxicating smell.
















The estuary opened up giving us this superb view.

Soon we were following the footpath in the woods alongside the estuary.

With bluebells everywhere on one side and...


...the village of Bere Ferrers on the other side.

We followed the shoreline into Blaxton Creek and this is the old quay in the middle and then...

...all the way round the creek to get access from the other side. We took our break on the quay.

Looking up the Creek from the quay.

The quay was used to bring coal in from South Wales to operate the three lime kilns nearby.





















Another view up the creek...

...and back up the estuary.

No one wants to get we feet!

Then we met a digger!

We left the group to return through the woods.
 
Back towards the start past this Shelduck...
...and the gulls

















Two people crossing below Lopwell Dam on the tidal footpath.

Lunch was in the cafe at Lopwell Dam

With Anne, Stella, Brenda, Linda, Jane Sue, Keith, Terry and Jon.