Chilling walk

Today my friend Jane and I embarked upon "Nan's Walk". This is one of Janes favourite walks as it begins close to her late Nan's house and takes us along all sorts of squelchy muddy pathways in the Chilling Coastal Area.


It always amazes me how close we are to the countryside as our neighbourhood is very urban and with the rapid need for housing locally, many hundreds of new houses have sprung up over the last 30 years. Tiny villages have been joined by new estates into a vast sprawling suburb where you can see endless rooftops whichever direction you look in.
Yet here we were - a mile and a half from my front door and enjoying the countryside - albeit a water logged mud splattering experience!


The walk was quite challenging in places due to the thick mud - each step didn't seem to take you as far forwards as it ought to due to the slippery-ness of the mud underfoot. Wellies were definitely necessary!












The sign says "Brownwich" but I'm told real locals pronounce this "Brinnitch". There are some spectacular puddles and some very sorry looking veg trying to grow in the fields nearby.









Nearby other fields are growing fruit bushes ready to open to the public in the summer to "pick your own" (and make your own jam!).
Further along this trail there are ancient woodlands - rather flooded at the moment and the path brings us out onto a road.















We spot a shy donkey who hides in his stable as we approach;









We follow the road a mile or so and happen upon pea soup bridge:





Many years ago a group of teenagers joy-riding in a stolen car had the misfortune to land in the water here and tragically the driver drowned.

We follow this road until we reach the beach - taking a detour by the chalets up to the cliff path.











We continue along an extremely muddy path - being mindful not to tread close to the edge as there are warning signs all around about the potential for natural erosion.
We descend to the beach briefly:





Then we follow another muddy path back inland towards Nan's house and the car park.
We walk along a badger sett for this part of the trail!














We arrive back where we started the walk both hungry and tired.

I must bring the Kelly Kettle on our next walk (and some flap-jack)!