The Great Escape (Into the Mud)
We’ve all been there: you see a signposted path, you see a map, and then you see a "shortcut" that looks far more interesting. My recent trip to Coatham Stob Forest started with the best of intentions. I was looking for a calm, quiet stroll to clear my head under the grey, overcast sky. And while I certainly found the quiet, I also found enough mud to sink a small vehicle.
Coatham Stob is a lovely, tucked-away spot with two clear, signposted routes. For those with a sensible head on their shoulders, there is a perfectly solid stoned path that keeps your boots clean and your dignity intact. But, feeling a bit "rogue," I decided to veer off the beaten track.
Lessons from the "Scenic" Route
My detour didn’t exactly go to plan. Somewhere between the towering trees and the heavy, winter clouds, my "shortcut" transformed into a cross-country trek that eventually spat me out onto the main road surrounding the forest. If you’re planning a visit anytime soon, take my advice: unless you’re wearing chest-high waders, stay on the stone. The ground off-path is currently a bit of a marshland, and while the "squelch-squelch" of mud is a great leg workout, it definitely changes the vibe of a "relaxing" walk.
Saving the Best for Summer
Despite my accidental roadside excursion and the state of my trousers, there is something undeniably peaceful about this place. It’s a silent, brooding kind of forest in the winter—perfect if you want to be alone with your thoughts (and the sound of your own heavy breathing as you pull your foot out of a bog).
I’ve already decided that a rematch is in order. I’ll definitely be revisiting in the summer when the ground has dried up and the sun is out. I have a feeling that when the weather is kinder, Coatham Stob is a completely different world.
