A dark, brooding sky and a brisk 17 mph wind set the scene for a loop around the grounds of Felbrigg Hall today. Sheep grazed nonchalantly right up to the edge of the drive as we arrived, forcing a cautious crawl into the car park. Brolly in hand, I set off into the grounds.

It was a busy afternoon for dog spotters—and sheep spotters alike! Alongside the usual well-behaved canines, a sprightly young bull terrier gave its owner a proper workout, vigorously tugging at its short lead while being firmly reined back in. A handsome pair of brown labradoodles strolled by on separate leads, and later, a magnificent, large white Tatra shepherd dog made quite the impression.

  . Nature put on a grand display as well. A sudden flutter sent ten wood pigeons erupting from the long grass, while four jackdaws quartered the air beneath a canopy of ancient trees and thick green ferns. Deep in the woods, the deep water pool looked wonderfully revived after recent rains, framed by unruly bracken and host to a busy flock of small birds flitting between the oak leaves. Between snapping photos of artist’s bracket fungi, mushrooms under a hawthorn, and the stark skeleton of a dead tree standing before a grove, I even spotted a couple of grey squirrels darting up and down the trunks.

     After a friendly greeting from a fellow walker and her mongrel, I turned back to meet Margaret for a well-earned pause at the Squire’s Pantry.

Walk Statistics

Distance: 2.79 miles

Duration: 1 hour 2 minutes

Google Fit Heart Points: 21

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.