Walk 6 Waterhay

A two mile tour of the lakes on the eastern edge of the village.

Start at the White Hart Inn in the centre of the village and go left as you look at the river from the pub. Walk along the High Road with the river on your right. Carry straight on past the Deny on your right and Wheatleys Farm on your left until you see the recycling bins ahead. This is High Bridge, where the road crosses Swill Brook. Looking to your right in winter, you may see little egrets feeding at the brook.

Go through the gate at the left of the recycling bins down the bridleway. Carry on through two more 5-bar gates and a further gateway (with no gate on). Go over the bridge and walk straight on through the field until you go through a gate and meet the main road. Turn right and walk down the road until yon reach Waterhay Car Park on your left. Turn into here and follow the signed path to the

left of the 5-bar gate. There are rather unsightly earth works on the left, but the lake on the right, which was a silt lagoon for gravelling operations, is likely to become a nature reserve soon. There is a wealth of birdlife to be seen - various waders, redwing and heron among others - so keep your eyes open. Carry straight on for 10 minutes, over the muddy track of the earth work vehicles until you reach the gate. Go straight across the road and walk to the right on the bridle-path.

There is a house on the right, various crops in the field and sometimes domestic geese (in the gated field!) on the right. When you emerge onto a cross-track, turn left onto the grass path, go over the stone stile and keep to the right of the field to the next stone stile. After going over this and through the next field, keeping to the right, you will have a small lake on the left. Carry on walking straight ahead, soon passing another small lake on the right. This often has small ducks, grebes or geese on it.

When you can go no further straight on you will see the footpath sign by the hedge. Turn left and follow the path between the conifers and small trees until you come to a wooden and stone stile. Go over and walk a further 100 yards straight on with 4 houses on the right. You are now at Little Kent End. On emerging into Back Street carry on walking down it past Pilgrim Cottage, Cleveland House and the Plough Inn until reaching the end of the street. Turn left passing the Long House and walk along by the river to the White Hart. You have made it! Time for a welcome drink hopefully.