Dog Walks by Catherine...

Well, what about the weather we've been having then?  Not nice for much of a good walk, that's for sure.  So with the rain sapping my imagination I've just been going over old ground really, so I'll summarise some of my regular haunts instead:

Chace Avenue, the football field behind the police station

My local haunt, because it's a quick walk from my flat.  Often there are other dogs running freely for Shadow to play with - he has his little 'friends' there, and most of the owners are lovely too.  EXCEPT for my sworn enemy - a crazy woman with a staffy.  When she sees another dog loose, she starts screaming and shouting a stream of expletives - the first time I met her she threatened to do physical damage to me!!  Absolutely off her tits, you have to see it to believe it really.  One time she threatened to report me to the police because Shadow was off his lead so I called her bluff, followed her to the police station and went in to see if she really had reported me.  She hadn't, of course - the police lady advised her to keep her dog away from other dogs if he didn't like them.  Lol!!  She is hilarious - often down there about 8-9pm if you're interested in freak watching!  

* Note my dog poo bin that I asked the council to put up :)*

Park by London Road

I don't think anyone really knows what this park is called but it's also walking distance from me, and a bigger walk than the Chace one.   If you walk across the field there's a lovely wood that Shadow loves to frolic through - watch out for the green-stuff covered pond on the right as you enter the wood though or you will have a stinky green dog on your hands.

If you bear to the left and leave the proper footpath for the muddy one, you will come across a metal bridge that takes you across  the river to a marsh, where in winter when it's dry you can walk along the river.  It's overgrown at the moment though so your best bet is to cut through the marsh to the playing fields and across the playing fields to the woods on the far side.

It's a good walk this one, because you can choose to keep it short or add the extras onto it  to make it more substantial.  Not many friendly dog owners though - I've only met one or two here.

Willenhall Woods

Two routes here - if you head up to the top of Yarnigale Road you can walk through the Willenhall Wood, or you can cross under the a46 to an old orchard.  The route through the wood can be varied, and Shadow does so love the wood.  If you bear right, the path takes you to the other side of the wood where there's a massive meadow and a copse at the far end which extends the walk considerably if you walk it's perimeter.

In the winter there's a muddy field to the right of the woods but in the summer it transforms itself into a breathtaking display of poppies and wild flowers - quite spectacular.  If you cross the field and go under the a46 you will find a deserted orchard and a lovely peaceful place to explore, with lots of routes, sights, smells  and textures for your dog to sniff and run through.  This is the best route for peace and quiet because you will rarely see another soul.

* tip of the day - hunter wellies are worth their weight in gold - from climbing to paddling they take you everywhere *