The crunch of beech leaves beneath my feet

Today the air was crisp with a sharp nip to it. The earth was cool and damp and trees were resting. We walked through the wooded valley of Hardcastle Crags - a National Trust property. Even rotting trees and the fallen branches had an extraordinary beauty. The bird song although not prolific was a delicate background to the burbling rivers and crunch of the leaves and twigs beneath our feet.

There were hints and quiet suggestions of buds and shoots all around - little tips of spring forging ahead courtesy of the mild weather.

Others walked with their dogs or families too - all in their own way, celebrating the protective enclosure the sleeping trees seemed to give.

When we reached the mill - our turning point to the walk - the air seemed impossibly still and because the cafe had just closed, the more sedentary visitors were shuffling off back to the car park. We went round to the mill pond and it was mirror calm. The reflections were perfect - mirror perfect.

Magical.

Before I go - 

Just in case you think I had forgotten -

January's words :)

metallic

plate

made

aged

modern

My own choice

And a gentle reminder how to join in.

All you need to do is be inspired by the list.
It can be a current image or one from your archives

interpret it as YOU please - think outside the box, 

think laterally, take photos

 and most importantly - have FUN!

Ok, it is now down to YOU - we shall reconvene and and reveal our pictures with a little bit of waffle, over the final weekend of January (starting Friday 25th).

How exciting is that! 

I can't wait to see what we all come up with!

#walk1000miles