This started out as a nostalgic forest walk in the Royal Forest of Dean, searching for remembered relics from a previous life. We found a stone bridge, an old stone quarry and a mine. But not the right mine. The remembered mine location was near what is now the Cannop Cycle Centre and Bike hire facility and as this attracts many youngsters it was thought that the mine entrance may have been filled in to deter visits underground. This was not the case as we shall see in subsequent films. Many of the cycle paths are on old mineral railway lines but not so much on this side of the main road, but the walking isn't too arduous and you don't need to be a hill walker to get about. The forest feel soon makes up for the occasional climb. Sallow Vallets is criss-crossed by lots of mountain bike trails but present very few problems with the bikers themselves, provided you are careful and keep out of the way if possible. I've always loved walking down here, my passion has been walking, last year I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and walking is no longer natural. However I find that the more walking I do, the easier it gets, at least for now.
I hope that watching these films will encourage others to hang in there, and try to keep going, living in the moment, whilst enjoying beautiful countryside