With the anticipation of a cream tea at a castle at journey's end, 14 members set off across farmland and the railway to the area of Silver Lakes. This was apparently new to most members and consists of flooded gravel pits divided into a nature reserve and upmarket housing. Staying in the former area we circumnavigated some beautiful mixed woodland to stop for elevensies at a memorial to Warmwell Airfield nearby. We then followed a bridleway past a pond for coracles and the the backlanes of Crossways to recross the railway line.

Taking the footpath adjacent to the railway we bridged a gravel and sand conveyor belt to eventually end at Woodsford Castle. Here we were greeted by Ian with pink champagne followed by magnificent cream tea and tour of the Castle.

We were all amazingly grateful to Ian for his generous hospitality. This was a Ducal High Tea, much more than the advertised Baronial one !

A one mile stroll along a minor road then took us back to our cars