We live on the edge of a large town in the north east of England, my home town and where I've always lived apart from the years spent away at university. The town is usually associated with the now declining heavy industry which is its heritage and has been on the receiving end of a fair few brickbats and negativity in recent years.
But this is a town of contrasts, a fact too easily overlooked and one which I was reminded of one evening last week. Not normally one for exerting myself (long gone are the days when every night was taken up with some sort of exercise class), I was motivated to get moving after reading about a blogger's love of walking. So, after work one evening, with camera in pocket (just in case) and the Husband leading the way, I set off on booted foot from our house. And this is the route taken on what turned out to be a 90 minute, or thereabouts, walk.
This cherry blossom is blooming its heart out in our front garden and I pass it every day with barely a glance, but on this particular sunny evening it seemed worthy of a bit of admiration. Now, back to the walk. At the end of our road we passed the track which leads to the riding stables and headed up the lane towards the golf club.
There was a brief pause to snap these two beauties enjoying a snack. Once we reached the golf club, we left the lane to join the public footpath (right of way) which took us past these farm buildings.
And then the Cleveland Hills came into view.
Following the public footpath signs, we caught a glimpse of this house.
Luckily there was an opening in the hedge giving me the opportunity to be really nosy.
The footpath took us across the field towards some woodland and then a glimpse of water through the trees
which turned out to be this lake, complete with ducks and geese. Shamefully, I have to admit I didn't know this was here, so near to where we live.
Walking away from the lake I spotted bluebells.
So pretty, and such a long time since I'd last seen any, I had to take a closer look.
Then the footpath signs directed us past the back of the old hall (built in the 1870's as a home for one of the iron industry pioneers, then used as a sanatorium and more recently converted into expensive apartments)
and towards the sheep.
Actually, the right of way goes through the field with the sheep. They weren't at all bothered, just a bit curious. (Notice the head on the one to the left in the photograph below? It's square!)
Closing the gate, we were onto a minor road, walking past other inquisitive eyes.
The final stretch was along the normally busy road that leads to home and, a few miles further on, the town centre.
This is the view to the left of the road.
And we spot this little family in the field just before we reach our house.
It was great to get out and about and see parts of the town which are hidden to many of its critics and, indeed, to some (yes,yes, me included) of its residents. So, thanks, Denise, for the virtual prod and see? I really was communing with nature!