Across the road from the Canadian cross there is another path that leads down to Bratley Water. This is a pretty little stream that runs through a fairly marshy part of the forest. We wandered down a fairly wide green track until we reached the stream, where a little bridge (guarded by a troll demanding biscuits) crossed the stream and we walked up the side of an enclosure. The green track went on past the enclosure and up a gentle hill where we reached the cycle track. We followed this for a few minutes before branching off back down to the enclosure. A group of Fallow deer watched from the enclosure fence as we wandered across some slightly boggy ground, but the dogs did not disturb them and they carried on grazing and keeping an eye on us to make sure we were not coming their way. We returned to the little stream and walked along the bank until we reached some very boggy ground at which point we started up the slope until we rejoined our original track. Dora and Missy found a log here which between them they carried quite a way before losing interest.
This was a new walk for us and one that we will explore further. Althought it was a little breezy when we were on the higher ground the sun was warm in the sheltered valley