Monday 28 May 2018

Newmillerdam

We had a walk at Newmillerdam yesterday. It's a while since we've been but we were thinking of somewhere different to walk for a change and came up with this lovely park.


There's a central lake with a surfaced path around it, just under two miles in total. There's some gorgeous rhododendrons at the start of the walk.


As you walk you can see the lake to one side. Across the lake is the Boathouse which was built in the 1820's.


Woodland is to the other side.


Archie was a good boy, no jumping in the lake, but he couldn't resist a paddle to cool down.


It was a lovely day, rather warm but with a nice cooling breeze. The dappled shade that the woodland provides was very welcome.


We're half way around here, looking back to where we started out from.


There's always lots of wildlife on the lake. The park is designated as a local nature reserve and is managed for the benefit of wildlife and people. This family of greylag geese were out for a swim.


Everywhere is so lush at the moment. The rain we had recently, mixed with the warm weather, is making everything grow fast and trees and plants are so green.


I managed to get a couple of photos of Archie. Here you can see that his fur is growing back even though it was cut so short just four weeks ago. It'll need cutting again soon.


Here's Archie sitting down for a change, he doesn't often stand, or sit, still for two minutes when we're out and about so it makes taking photos of him very difficult.


Incidentally, I wrote A Sunday Morning Walk post about Newmillerdam back in 2010 just two months after we got Archie, just look what a little scrap he was then.

An abandoned nest. It's sad to see it lined with so much litter.


On closer inspection, there's an egg.


I think it may be a coot's egg as this little one was swimming around nearby with its parents and two siblings. Awww.


Archie had been for a run at the cricket pitch in the morning so he was worn out by the time we got home, it doesn't take much to tire him out these days.

42 comments:

  1. What a lovely park - such a peaceful place for a stroll. The shady path looks wonderfully cooling - it's amazing the difference a bit of shade can make in our enjoyment of the great outdoors during a hot day. And I enjoyed seeing those old photos of Archie - so cute (and he still is!).

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    1. It's a lovely place for a walk, plenty to see on the way round the lake and not too far. The shade cast from the trees is perfect on a sunny day. It doesn't seem two minutes since Archie was just a puppy.

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  2. You do have some lovely walks close by, we must start looking at our local beauty spots and get out more, hubby has gone out on his motorbike as the weather is so nice.

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    1. We're so lucky to have so many places close by where we can enjoy such wonderful walks. We started looking closer to home for days out rather than travelling further afield which many of us tend to do but it really isn't necessary.

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  3. What a lovely place for a walk. I looked back on the photos of Archie, aw, cute puppy, he has such a sweet face now still with those puppy eyes xx

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    1. It's a while since we've been to Newmillerdam so it was nice to walk there again. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have such lovely faces, as you say, it's the eyes.

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  4. Lovely post and pictures. That looks like a most enjoyable walk round the lake, especially with the added bonus of seeing some young geese and coots. xx

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    1. There's always plenty of wildlife on the lake at Newmillerdam but I'm always extra pleased when I see some babies.

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  5. What a beautiful place to walk!

    I love the nice wide pathways. Smooth too, which would be better, for my old legs/Equilibrium. -smile-

    And dappled sunshine, is there anything, quite so lovely???

    Archie looks as if he is constantly a happy boy. -smile- Must keep you happy, just looking at him.

    Thank you for taking me along, on your lovely walk!

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    1. It's good to find places with good paths to walk, we saw people out with pushchairs and people in wheelchairs yesterday, it's nice that they're able to enjoy Newmillerdam too. Archie's such a good dog, never a minute's bother, we're so lucky to have him.

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  6. IT looks like you had a beautiful walk with gorgeous Archie.

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    1. We always enjoy it when we visit Newmillerdam, I think Archie likes it there too.

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  7. My wedding reception was at the pub there and wedding photos taken in the park. 38 years ago.

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    1. How lovely. I bet your wedding photos are beautiful with the park as the backdrop.

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  8. What a great walk on a lovely day. The lake looks just the right size to give Archie a nice, tiring run. 🐶

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    1. It's a lovely place for a walk and Archie enjoys walking here too. It's just the right length for Archie, he used to be able to walk much further than he does now but this walk, coupled with a run at the cricket pitch yesterday morning, tired him out.

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  9. What an absolutely wonderful place. What a shame about the egg but nature works in mysterious ways. Beautiful chicks.

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    1. We've been to Newmillerdam in all seasons and it's just as lovely. It's a shame the egg had been left but nice to see so many babies on the lake.

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  10. I clicked through to your old post just to see Archie as a young puppy. Adorable! His older self is, of course, also adorable! :o)

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    1. Looking back it's hard to remember him being such a little scrap, how he filled out! I know I'm biased but he's such a gorgeous dog.

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  11. Io used to work closely at Woolley and often went past the lake on my way to and from work when out visiting schools.

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    1. I hope you stopped off for a walk, that would have been a lovely way to break up your day.

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  12. That is one beautiful walk!!! Everything is so lush at the moment, long may it last! Lovely seeing puppy Archie, he's still adorable though. Such a lucky boy finding you all, what a great life he has. Love the geese and goslings, yes, so sad seeing how much litter is polluting the natural world.xxx

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    1. Everywhere is so green with the rain mixed with sunshine, the plants are loving it. I can't believe we've had Archie so long, 2010, it seems like a couple of years ago when he was a puppy, not eight! It's sad to see so much litter.

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  13. What a wonderful place to walk with so much to see. So pretty and peaceful. Hoping it won't be too much longer before I can get out and get some walks in again. Miss it. Such good alone thinking time, or walking and chatting with a friend.
    Sandy's Space

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    1. It's a wonderful place to walk, not too far going around the lake, or you can veer off into the woods if you want to walk further. I'm sure it won't be too long now before you're able to get out and walk again, fingers crossed.

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  14. What a lovely walk & park. Don't think we've been, but my niece & hubby told us about it some time ago. Archie's coat is growing back quite fast isn't it? Glad you are having some warm weather at last & it does all look lush. Ours is greening up here too, after our long hot, dry summer, but I expect after a few frosts, the paddocks will again look dreary & brown. Take care.

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    1. It's a lovely walk if you don't want to be out too long, though you can make it longer by walking through the woods if you want to. I can't believe how quickly Archie's coat is growing back, I definitely won't be afraid to get him cut too short again, he's enjoyed being a bit cooler.

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  15. Replies
    1. It is. We especially enjoyed it as it's been a while since we've visited.

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  16. You take in some lovely walks Jo. Mark isn't into walking for the sake of it so the only walks I do are on my own and are to the local park or round the estate, not very inspiring!
    Hope you had a good BH weekend and have a great week.

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    1. I must admit that we probably wouldn't walk as much as we do if we hadn't got Archie. I feel that we have to give him some good walks and variety in those walks too so it makes us get out and about. It's a good job really as I do very little other exercise.

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  17. English countryside at its best, having Archie is certainly a good incentive to go walking. Not quite the same with 10 furries, although they will follow us if we walk around the terraces xcx

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    1. It was a beautiful day, perfect for a lovely walk. There's a man who lives close by and when he takes his dog for a walk on an evening his cat follows.

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  18. If I were nearer I'd certainly go.
    From your photographs it looks a lovely park and so nice to walk around.

    All the best Jan

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    1. We have some lovely places around here to walk, we're spoilt for choice really.

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  19. What a gorgeous place full of the lush green colours of England in the summer.
    Lovely photos of Archie, he looks like he's having a good laugh!
    Such a cute baby coot!
    Lisa x

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    1. It was enjoyable going back to somewhere we haven't visited for a while. Archie always looks as though he's smiling, he's such a happy little dog. Awww, the coot was so cute, there were three babies and the parents.

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  20. Aww young Archie is very sweet. And grown up Archie is very handsome, these photos here are lovely.
    It looks nice a nice pace for a walk. It's such a lovely time of year to be out and about, everything is so lush.

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    1. It's hard to remember Archie looking like he did in those early photos, though it doesn't seem as though we've had him for eight years. It's a great time of year to get out, there's so much going on in the world around us.

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  21. Beautiful photos.Archie,I love you.xxx

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    1. Archie enjoyed himself at Newmillerdam and he was very good and didn't jump in the lake.

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