We chose a different way up from the last time though oak woodland and along the stream. It's been a bit wet over the last week or two and the watercourses and springs were busy relocating the water from the hill stops to the rivers in the valley bottoms.
The car park was busy but the woods were quiet - almost supernaturally so. There was no wind so other than the noises of the water rushing down the hill there was no sound - not even birds, and the stillness was absolute. It would be hard not to believe in the fairy folk in such a setting.
Close to the tree line the oaks were stunted and twisted into fabulous shapes. Many of the trees had faces - here are just a few.
OK this one is lichen but the green man it definitely is!
More of a gargoyle than a green man perhaps but the way he was waving his stick at us made us disinclined to linger too long.
And yes I did make it to the top - It was a hard slog but the views were worth it; even if the ravens at the peak were camera shy!
