This was an unexpectedly lovely walk after a long spell of very cold weather.The tide was at its lowest point- mud isn't  attractive but it is always  interesting.

Start at Lopwell Damn (473649) and walk south along the edge of the river on the Discovery Trail, a short stretch of road and then another stretch of wonderful riverside woodland walking through Blaxton Wood and along Blaxton Creek. Exit at the road, turn right round the sharp bend and up the  hill. (There is a footpath sign pointing right down a track which leads to the river and would be a fine place for birdwatching and it is interesting to see the wood and look out point where you have just been. Retrace steps to the lane and continue up the hill. Turn right off the hill and onto a farm track, follow this through the farmyard and then up a narrow green lane towards Warleigh Lodge. Walk through Tamerton Foliot (down the hill and then left at the main(ish) road. Turn left up the hill, left fork at the telephne box and then take the small single track lane alongside the estate ( NOT the lane signposted Trehills). This lane runs adjacent to the housing estate and goes to Ashleigh Barton. After Peter Hooper's Bridge take a right turn through a bedraggled barbed wire and wrought iron gate and along a farm track running slightly uphill through meadows. Continue along the brow of the hill and exit at Pound. Take next 2 left turns along country lanes dropping down the hill to where the car is parked.

Birds: Kingfishers are regularly seen at Lopwell ( not this time).All sorts of birds on the mudflats including a flock of Canada geese. There were a lot of pheasants on this walk and wonderful chaffinches along the farm track to Pound and snipe in the meadow at the top of the field track to Pound.

Flowers: hedgerows looking very brown and bedraggled.

Small joys: There were many- the creakiest wood noise in Blaxton Wood as a half fallen tree rubbed against another. It was an almost human sound and creepy even in broad daylight. The look out point in Blaxton Wood is fun.The patterns in the mud and the rather magnificent ford (Unsuitable for motor vehicles) down stream from Lopwell across the estuary- it had clearly been used relatively recently by some brave heart.