Highland Water

To my mind, the stretch of Highland Water which runs through Great Huntley Bank, Brinken Wood and Camel Green represents some of the best stream walking in the forest. This section of forest stream is about a mile and a half long, a mix of high cut banks where the Kingfisher can be seen fishing and low bank floodplain where the deer and ponies graze, along the banks gnarly exposed roots keep a tight grip as the trees come down to drink, sometimes they're careless and topple across the stream, and throughout, frequent gravel beaches appear and disappear as the flow  decrees.  It feels wonderfully natural as it meanders wildly through a geography partly of its own creation. And, although much of the Camel Green section was restored in recent years, it too feels natural. I suppose that's because it has been restored to it's natural course. Highland water has run through the landscape for,....I don't know how many years, for ever (relatively of course)?  Throughout the streams environs are the meander scars and withered oxbows created over the centuries of subtle course change which have shaped this river corridor. It's a lovely bit of stream, especially in the dappled light of the stands. That's what really sets it off, the predominantly deciduous ancient woodland through which Highland Water runs, open woodland with occasional clearings created by tree falls, mostly of oak and beech, although with diverse shrub and ground flora communities.  It's a rich environment, perfect for immersive walking. Love it.