The first rural walk of Forum's Spring Walks programe took place on Thursday 31st March. Since the forecast was for a sunny and pleasant spring day a sizeable group of members assembled in the car park of the New Inn. Our route took us westwards out of Coleford on the lane to Broomhill Cross, and then downhill to Ford Farm, a beautiful spot where a bank of primoses was in full flower. From there we headed southwards along the valley bottom passing some large grassy tussocks to Horwell Barton. We then skirted Batsford Barton, passing under the Crediton-Okehampton railway line, before climbing up along a very steep field path that eventually led us to a narrow path behind some of the houses of Colebrooke hamlet.
After a pause to allow for recovery, and to inspect the interior of Colebrooke Church, we left the settlement on lanes passing by Lower Town and then to Keymelford where we passed under the Tarka Line. Here we turned north and onto a field path alongside the railway line to the outskirts of the hamlet of Penstone. After leaving the path we meandered along the lanes through this hamlet, under the railway again, then to continue northwards to return back into Coleford, the New Inn, and lunch.