Firstly, I must apologise for the lack of photographs of this walk. There was a forecast of rain for the morning and our camera must have sensed this and went into hiding.

Some of the tracks through the wood looked different this time and I’m not wholly confident that I led the walkers down the usual route to the lake, 9 which is our midway resting point.

Anyway, as all roads lead to Rome - especially if Frankie is driving or navigating - all paths in this part of the forest seem to finish up at the pond. So it was not a problem.

It began raining a little hard, but the tree canopy afforded us some protection as we rambled onwards.

Sometimes this walk seems to encourage some hounds to breakaway from the group to venture into the dark forest.

This year Pablo - who is now eleven years and has lost almost all of his hearing - seemed to become confused as to where Frankie and I where, and headed back at speed along the track back to the car park.

Brian, walking rearguard, saw this and attempted to turn him back. Pablo then re-thought his course of action and wheeled around to return to the group. He does these walks dividing his time between walking off-lead alongside Frankie and myself, swapping between us. Knowing of his deafness it is always reassuring to have him in sight. So, thanks to all those who tried to coral him back.

Upon reaching the pond the ‘pack’ divided itself between those who like water and those with a H₂O aversion. There were no fishermen about, so the ‘swimmers’ enjoyed themselves without too much interference - save from those owners who were thinking of the journey home with wet hound passengers!

The route from here circles back to the car park; this section proving uneventful as far as I was concerned, walking at the vanguard.

The joy of this venue is the opportunity, following the rigours of the walk, to popping into the nearby Old Oak Inn for refreshments. Although not all walkers could make it, enough of us enjoyed the good food and drinks provided by this lovely country pub, sitting outside in the garden, under a vast awning with electric heating, in the pouring rain.

It was good company and great fun!