The popular area of Danebridge was the starting point for the 5 mile walk on Wednesday 29th October 2025, and 14 members met on a mild sunny morning, after earlier cloud had disappeared.
Dave Martin led us over the bridge, which contains a plaque to commemorate the 150th anniversary of it being built in 1869, to take the path beside the cottage followed by steps to reach level ground. A surprise followed as a large area which was woodland was now devoid of trees, but the surrounding steep slopes had already been replanted. Taking care to walk down over this muddy churned up ground, we then moved uphill to climb over an awkward stile to continue over field paths to Hanging Stone Farm, and then walk past the base of the landmark known as Hanging Stone towards and onto the ridge.
Our walk continued until we came to the cluster of huge stones in Back Forest, where we took advantage of places to sit and enjoy a break. From this point we took the path which would lead us into Lud's Church. This is actually a deep chasm created by a massive landslip above Gradbach, and has a history of secret worship and many legends. We had to take a very careful climb through this area of mosses, ferns and trees, all dripping with moisture down over the rocks, which we had to clamber over to reach daylight again, and walk down to reach Forest Wood.
Here there were posters describing the removal of trees due to a disease affecting Larch, so this could have been the same reason for the change in the landscape at the start of our walk.
We reached the Dane Valley Way, and the beautiful scenery over to our right also gave us a view of Shutlingsloe on the horizon.This path took us alongside the fast flowing River Dane, and to an unfortunate young man who had lost his phone into the water, as he crossed over the river by the boulders stretching across.
The path then took us away from the riverbank, past the holiday cottages, before dropping down again to the river at the site of the huge rock formations there, before we returned to the bridge and our cars. It had been so good to see many families with young children running around and climbing over rocks enjoying this very beautiful area.
