| Swaby Valley Walk - 2003 January |
We set off from South Thoresby Church, climbed over the stile and took the path on the left across the meadow. The bright clear morning early January was frosty making the ground good for walking but it was beginning to thaw.
South Thoresby Church |
 |
 stile and gate near South Thoresby Church |
 across the meadow |
towards the beck |
 Calceby Beck |
| The 'path' now goes straight over an undrained field with wooden 'stepping stones' in the middle. This bridges the old water course. This area is good for lapwing, snipe, goose and duck. |
 undrained field |
 wooden 'stepping stones' |
 Swaby Beck |
|
| We crossed the field heading towards the bridge beside a large willow. This took us over Swaby Beck after which we turned left and walked alongside a cultivated field. Then leads into a wood. |
 walk alongside a cultivated field |
 through a wood |
 dead tree |
 junction with the Bridle Path |
| Just after a dead tree we came out into the open again near the junction with the Bridle Path. We turned left onto the Bridle Path. At this point there is also a private circular path off to the left which the general public are permitted to use. |
 Bridle Path |
 private circular path |
| We carried on down the wooded path and through a gate which lead into the open Swaby Valley. |
 wooded path |
 through the gate |
 Swaby Beck |
|
| The steep sides of Swaby Valley show that it cut out by a glacier. We could see the chalk not far below the surface soil covered with grass. |
 Swaby Valley |
 Swaby Valley |
 pond near the end of the Valley |
 pond near the end of the Valley |
 pond near the end of the Valley |
 the way we came |
| The Bridal Path travels alongside a beautiful pond and comes out in Swaby village; the area is covered with daffodils in the Spring. |
| Continue the walk to Bellau..... |