This is another new walk for me and a particularly pretty one, although today there was a pretty stiff wind we were mostly sheltered.
W started off at Damgate Lane in Acle, parked right at the bottom of the road outside the sewage works gates,not as bad as it sounds!!!We walked along a shady road to a small crossroads where we had a choice of turning right or left, our route today took us to the right, along by a ditch on the other side of the ditch were some very sweet bullocks all fluffy and curly haired, they decided to follow us as we walked, and were very curious little boys!! As we walked along there was a screeching from some trees to our right we thought it may be a Buzzard, but a Kestrtel flew out, then we saw in the distance a Hobby, and later on a Marsh Harrier, all good stuff so far.
As we walked we came accross another small dyke , the water was crystal clear and there were Lilly pads floating in the clear water and around them swam tiny Tadpoles. it was a complete contrast to the ditch on the other side of the path which was brown and murky.
We walked across a large field, we were lucky today no Bulls in it , there are usually a few there, there is a warning notice but it isnt seen until you reach the end of the path near a style.
In the autumn time along the next part of the road there are usually bushes dripping with yellow bullaces, I think that is what they are, but whatever they are they are delicious!!
We carried along a lane edged with scarlet campion and jack by the hedge(Garlic Mustard) and there were lots of Red Damselflies, we were hoping to see one of the early Dragonflies, the Hairy Dragonfly, and on our return journey we were lucky, we saw it, and got some pictures, there were Butterflies everywhere, Orange Tip, Brimstone, White, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, and Peacock, it was a lovely sheltered little lane but the next part of our journey took us out into the oncoming wind, so we braced ourselves and set off.
Our next two choices were left or right again, left to Tunstall Dyke drainage Mill or right to Tunstall Church, we decided on the drainage mill where we would sit on a wooden bridge and have our lunch, and after we would go to the church.
We carried on through an archway of Bullace bushes ,once again , in autumn they would be dripping with purple fruit, then we walked out into the full force of the wind, there were a few nettles which reminded us to remember to bring the sting cream next time, along the weay we heard Sedge Warblers in the nearby bushes, and saw another Marsh Harrier in the distance, this was a strange part of the walk as quite nearby we could see the Acle Straight from a different perspective, and also the train tracks, but we sat with our backs to all that and hunckered down as best we could, we made a makeshift shelter on the sside of the bridge with our picnic blankets and wedged ourselves against this to keep out of the wind, we took some lovely pictures, very atmospheric, with the reed swaying in the wind and the old mill looming behind!
We stuffed our faces until we nearly popped, we needed energy for the treck to the church and the walk back to the car.
We walked back to the turning to the church another secluded lane with lots of wildlife ,my daughter had decided to meanwhile wrap herself up in a grey blanket and fashion herself a walking stick, so we now called her Frodo, with her rolled up pack she looked like one of the fellowship!!!( I aint never bin this far Mr Frodo)
Turning up the path towards Tunstall church was a lovely sight ,you could just make out the ruined part of the church through the trees , and it was framed by a beautiful pink cherry tree in full blossom, pink blossom lay all over the ground like pink snow, it was truly beautuful, we sat inside the ruined area for a little while and took a few photos, if you do decide to go there dont forget to go in the little church next door which has been restored it is very pretty, we left a little message in the book and a donation and then started off on the journey homeward.
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