Swan Lake Loop (variation) - Part 03
w/e 11 April 2021
All of this week's
pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490
The concluding part of the WFH route is from Swan
Lake and back to the Victoria Leisure Centre.
After feeding the mallards that greeted us as we reached Swan
Lake we had a choice of routes around the lake. We could have
gone to the right and walked to the car park or to the left along
the quieter "back" (i.e. the side opposite the main
entrance) of the lake. We opted for the latter.
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This is the more sheltered side of the lake and the path is lined
between it and the water with trees bushes and shrubs which were
in full blossom at this time of year.
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Although it is actually called Straw's Bridge Nature Reserve,
it is commonly known as Swan Lake but because of the other species
of wildlife that frequent the lake, it might easily have been
called Goose Lake.
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A couple of Canada Geese were waiting expectantly near the exit
of the site which we intended to take so before leaving, we deposited
some more food but they must have been having us on as they totally
ignored it.
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We left the Nature Reserve, crossed the former railway embankment
again, this time by a tarmaced path and rejoined the Nutbrook
Trail.
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It was only for a short time though as we turned off the path,
through a kissing gate and onto the Pewit Golf Course. Following
a footpath marked by a series of yellow topped post we rejoined
the track we had walked down earlier in the walk.
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Where the track turned left to the car park we continued straight
ahead across the grass and between the two buildings towards
West End Drive.
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We didn't go on to West End Drive at this point though but remained
this side of the hedge to continue through the Rutland Recreation
Ground or as the local Council now call it, the Rutland Sports
Park although it will always be The Rec to me.
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Leaving The Rec at the end of West End Drive the route now continues
past the Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy, formerly the Ilkeston
Grammar School, along King George Avenue.
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This leads to Bristol Road and the Victoria Park which offer
a choice of routes back to the Leisure Centre. On this occasion
we chose the road but still enjoyed the flowers, blossom and
trees in the Park.Planned route through Pewit Carr continues in Part 04
The Missing Link which we completed
in June 2021.
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