A Long Forest Walk – part two

The former treatise have I made, O loyal reader, of all that Angie began to do on her Long Walk until the time when she stopped for a well-earned rest and a picnic at Speculation — with apologies to St Luke (Acts 1.1) and Josephus (Against Apion). 

Reinvigorated, and with a good supply of refreshing orange juice, I asked S- to take me about a mile down the road to Cannop, from where I set out along the track of the former Severn & Wye Railway, in the direction of Parkend.

Cannop Ponds soon came into view. These were originally created to provide water for an ironworks in Parkend; now they are a haven for wildlife. The ponds are fed by Cannop Brook which, further upstream, is known as the Newerne and downstream becomes the Lyd. I wonder how many other watercourses change their name twice in just a few miles?

The photo below shows the popular picnic area between Cannop's two ponds. It's a place that's rather special to S- and me.  Back in 2012 we booked into a guest house in Ross-on-Wye and spent a few days looking around, wondering whether we might leave our native Cornwall and move to the Forest of Dean. It was here, at this picnic site, that we finally made our decision, drove home and put our little cottage on the market.  No regrets!

A glance back at the map of this walk reveals a sharp change of direction at Parkend.  This marks the spot where the Severn & Wye Railway's Coleford Branch once joined the 'main' line. Both are now pleasant paths for cycling and walking, but the Coleford one is less popular and hence a lot more peaceful. One imagines that the steady 1:30 incline for more than 3 miles is something of a disincentive to cyclists, though coming back down must be great fun.

Soon after leaving Parkend the faint course of an old tramroad can just about be made out on the left hand side. This was the Milkwall Tramroad, which predated the railway by several years and survived into the 1930's to serve Point Quarry.  This is the short tunnel that was constructed to carry the Coleford Branch over the tramroad at Point. After my brisk walk up from Parkend it was nice to wander into it and cool down a bit.

Point was also where I chose to rest for a while and drink my orange juice.

The next point of interest, about 10 minutes' walk beyond Point, is Darkhill Ironworks... or rather, what's left of the Ironworks. Here's a place that really made its mark during the Industrial Revolution and it's well worth stopping to read the helpful information boards. Most importantly, it was here that the Bessimer Process for making good, cheap steel, was perfected. Thus the age of STEEL began, a nearby plaque proudly proclaims.

Not far to go now.  After crossing a busy road at Milkwall, the line continues its relentless climb towards Coleford. Only in the last few hundred yards does the green and pleasant land of fields and a golf course give way to factories on one side, then houses on the other. 

Two railways once had their termini in Coleford but almost every sign of them has been obliterated. The one survivor is the old Great Western goods shed, which now houses the Coleford Railway Museum. Whilst on holiday, several years ago, I had a look round and impressed the curator, Mike Rees, with my knowledge of signalling practice. I've got connections, you see... and once learned, 'tis hard to forget.  Now how did it go....?

One ring on the block instrument: call attention of the signal box up the line.

3 bells, pause, then 1: is line clear for a passenger train?

Give the single-line token to the driver

Pull off the starter signal, then the advanced starter.

2 bells: train entering section.

Easy!!