Pete's Walks- Maidensgrove Common and Crocker End (page 4 of 4)
At a track crossroads in the valley bottom I turned right onto another byway through the Warburg nature reserve (this was the one I'd not walked before). I followed this until it ended at a lane, where I turned left and soon reached the reserve's Visitor Centre (which was still closed because of Covid). The lane now became a track - I could have followed it and turned right at a track crossroads to get back to Maidensgrove Common, but chose to go through a bit of the reserve instead, hoping to see more wildflowers and butterflies. So I went through the reserve's small car park and through a gate. The path soon reached a grassy area stretching away to the left, but I went straight on (or very slightly right), the path soon re-emerging into another grassy area which it followed to the left. At the end of the grassy section the path continued ahead and ended at a byway (the continuation of the one I'd been on earlier, I could have shortened the walk slightly if I'd stayed on it), where I turned right.
The byway after I turned right in Warburg nature reserve
The byway after I turned right in Warburg nature reserve
The byway after I turned right in Warburg nature reserve
The byway after I turned right in Warburg nature reserve, approaching the lane
The lane to Warburg nature reserve, just before reaching the visitor centre
The path through Warburg nature reserve
The path through Warburg nature reserve
It was now just a steady plod back uphill to return to Maidensgrove Common - a mountain biker soon overtook me here. After the wood on my right ended I soon had a view back over the woods of the nature reserve. On reaching Maidensgrove Common, I just followed the lane ahead to return to my parked car.
The byway up to Maidensgrove Common
The byway up to Maidensgrove Common
The byway up to Maidensgrove Common
View back to Warburg nature reserve
The byway up to Maidensgrove Common
Maidensgrove Common
It had taken me about two and a half hours to walk almost six miles, but I did take quite a few photos (not just of the route but many wildlife ones too) and I'm still suffering from Long Covid. It was a very pleasant walk, but then the conditions were nigh on perfect! The weather was sunny and warm without ever being too warm, the trees were gorgeous in their bright new leaves, and there were colourful wildflowers and butterflies to see.