Today didn't turn out as planned, it got off to a good start though; as I passed through the park to reach the bus stop I lingered for a while to watch the squirrels. Without moving from the main paved path I spotted three of them.
I caught the local bus to Blyth and took the footpath that goes over to Hodsock.
I got lost before reaching Hodsock though, the fields had been ploughed and I couldn't locate the route of the path. I decided to head in a general westerly direction to find another path going to Hodsock. Although this wasn't a footpath it was easy going and I could see horses had been using the route.
On the subject of horses....I heard a strange noise, as it got louder and closer I could see what it was, it was the local huntmaster blowing his horn followeed by a pack of yapping beagles. I stayed out of sight until he'd passed and then got onto a wide track, not the one I was expecting though. I sat on a conveniently situated boulder to check the map and then all of a sudden dozens of horses came galloping towards me. I was safe, the rock was set well back from the track by several yards. After they'd passed I continued on my way, only to be confronted by more people on horseback, this time a lot less threatening. There were more people, and parked cars further on; to be fair everyone seemed quite friendly, but I decided it was better to not take any photographs.
Somehow I'd managed to completely miss Hodsock and was now on the lane that goes to the main road and the entrance to Langold Lake Country Park.
Fortunately there was plenty of room to get out of the way of two tractors.
There's a cafe at the country park; I popped in for a Viennese slice and a pot a tea. I finished off the walk by doing a short circuit in areas of the country park I'd not been before - I ended up not seeing the lake though.
I didn't even need to walk up the road to Langold to catch a bus, there's a bus stop right outside the entrance to the car park.
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