Burntstump Country Park

Walk 1. Start from the building at the car park corner where toilets are available.

The path continues in the same direction, with the cricket ground on your left and trees to your right. In Spring, a wonderful show of daffodils can be seen along here.

Continue along this path as it curves gently round to the left, eventually reaching a pond, where the path splits. You can go either way – the right-hand path gives another view of the pond and its wildlife before re-joining the main path (see map)

Continue along this return path, reaching the Burntstump pub on your right where meals and drinks are available. Follow the fence round to your left, maybe watching a cricket match, until at the top of a slight gradient, you return to your starting point.

Walk 2. Starts at the same point, but take the climbing path at 90 degrees to the right of Walk 1, turning left at the top on to the wide path in front of you. This continues past a path sloping down left, which could be explored at a later date. Some of these lower paths may be suitable for wheel- chair or scooter access, but it would pay to do a walking reconnaissance first. Some gradients may be tiring for those less steady on their feet.

You will eventually find a gate which you pass through, soon afterwards reaching a sports field (Paviors) on your right. Be aware that cars and trucks also use this road which becomes fenced on your right.

In Spring keep an eye open on your left for a rotting tree trunk that now gives life to a host of tiny blue/pink flowers. It’s pink purslane, often found growing wild in the woodlands of Scotland, but otherwise quite a rare sight in the UK.

You may also find small yellow celandines along here in early Spring. After a slight left curve, a signpost indicates a path left into the woods.

It matters little which path you take now – they are all bounded by Burntstump Hill road. In autumn look out for fungi, especially on rotting trees. In Spring, keep an eye open for small blue for- get-me-nots in patches by the paths, followed later by the occasional bluebell. Birds, like this tiny blue tit, are also nesting.

Watch for the wide green space beside the cricket ground through the trees on your left, aiming towards it for a rest or a picnic, before continuing either side of the cricket ground back to your starting point. Although small, this site amply repays visiting each season of the year, trying out the different paths to chart their changes as the year progresses.