Sunday was forecast to be as nice a day as Saturday  so we thought we’d go for a walk down Lathkill Dale from Bolehill farm which we haven’t done for a while. With snow still piled up at the side of the road we cut across the fields but still had to climb over the gate onto the road as we could not open the gate.  The first snow on the path wasn’t until we got to the track from Mill Farm down to the dale at Haddon Grove. Once down in the Dale the only snow was on the north facing slopes so we had a nice stroll along the Dale all the way to Conksbury Bridge with a brief detour to Bateman’s House.  The river itself was running quite well and parts of the path that we would normally expect to be under water at this time of year were dry but there was also signs of plants emerging after their winter slumber.  For a while we walked with a family who also had two collies so the sight of four collies walking along the Dale in harmony must have been quite impressive.  At the weirs we found a pair of swans nesting so look forward to seeing their young soon. At Conksbury Bridge we picked the path up to Over Haddon, parts of this were still under snow, but parts were bone dry.  We stopped at the Lathkill for lunch and it was nice enough to sit outside and enjoy the view from the beer garden.  Another of the cottages were also enjoying lunch there.  On the way back we called in at our next door but one neighbours for a cup of tea and said hello to the cades (orphan/rejected lambs) so it was late afternoon before we got back.  The dogs had enjoyed the walk too so here are some photos.