The climb to Cross Furzes was quite pleasantly sheltered from the wind, but it was a very different story as we reached the open moor at Lud Gate. Our immediate task was to climb to the top of Puper's Hill, but the youngsters were soon pushing and not terribly enthusiastic about continuing.

Once we had crossed the top of the hill we were exploring new territory - well, not new to Ben, who helpfully pointed out a track that made the descent to Huntingdon a good deal easier. We viewed the deserted settlements and the relics of the tin mining era and then began to work out how to get home.

We were reasonably familiar with the moorland terrain from Red Lake to Cross Furzes, so we decided to follow the stream down to its junction with the Avon and then pick up the Abbot's Way behind the dam for the journey homewards. The going proved a little boggy in places, and more than one of the younger members got ankle-deep in mud, but the ride rapidly turned into one of the most enjoyable of the winter season to date.