Winter wonderland walk
Just when we thought winter was officially over, freezing temperatures and snow are back this week. An hour long walk in Surrey worth bundling up for:
Start with a quick breakfast, brunch or light bite at Cafe Menta on Esher High Street. Walk up Esher High Street towards Moore Place and take a right onto the public footpath just past Hill House. Moore Place Golf Course will be on either side of the path. Continue down the path until you reach a fork in the path. Proceed down the right hand side path down a steep hill. At the end of the hill you will reach West End Lane.
Take a left on West End Lane and when you reach the fork in the road stay to your right to Winterdown Road. West End Pond on your left is the central focal point of the small village of West End. Down the road from this picturesque spot is Garson's Garden Farm Centre, home to the UK's largest 'Pick Your Own' produce along with an enormous gift and retail area and refurbished cafe.
On the way, keep an eye out for the colorful ornamental cabbage. These plants are used by gardeners to provide a shot of color during the winter months before spring flowers emerge. And in fact, they get brighter as the temperature goes down.
Another natural phenomenon, I get caught up in photographing is spider webs covered in ice crystals. Despite living in cold temperatures before, I don't recall call seeing such large and varied displays (or it could be that there just weren't as many spiders where we lived!).
You will also see patches of snow drops that signal the end of winter and blooms of daffodils that are a sign spring is on its way.
Tune in next week to find out where else they are in bloom . . .