3 Suggested walks starting at Church of the Good Shepherd

This will be an eclectic walking blog intended for all levels, but especially for those thinking to undertake a moderately ambitious trip.  The walks across England, for instance, come in two general types.  One is shorter, the narrow stretch along Hadrian"s Wall, about 80 miles in length.  The other is longer, about 200 miles, but more scenic covering the English Lake District.  So we are thinking walks of around  100 to 200 kilometers.

This post proposes walks right at the front door, no travel required and good for building a base.  They are about an hour in length, the thought will be a 3 mile per hour pace.  These first suggestions have a moderate amount of altitude change so approximate the effort of three miles on level ground. Short walks at a moderately fast pace can be like intervals in other sports.  Try walking fast enough that you can still talk but singing would be difficult.  We will be listening for test verses.

The following are cue sheets by distance, but will try to add 3 maps as well. There is an element of out and back due to the major roads and the rail line.  Bike rides do this and emphasize the different view you get going each way.  Take the usual precautions. Take more than the usual precautions.

You can start anywhere and in all weather.

Addendum: One supplementary map is from a friend who did the Wayne Berry Walk.  There is no cue sheet but not really needed.  The walk starts near the bridge on Club Rd.  Warm up by taking the gravel path on the other side of the gate leading south from Club Rd on the east side of the creek.  Circle the field which used to be called the Rugby field, come back to Club Rd, climb to the top ( a left turn at the gate) and return.  The field loop will be mostly dirt path. This will be only about a mile but vigorous hill.  Distance will vary according to where you start.  Wayne started from Good Shepherd Church so would have about 2.5 miles.  The northern entry to Lake Roland is just west of the bridge, a possible extension.

My friend obviously cut across the light rail to come up and let me copy the route.  Not part of the suggested route but a technically possible access point if you are mildly rebellious.  If you consider crossing the tracks there is a skeleton between the north bound rails near the rugby field, probably a deer.  Deer are generally quicker than humans.

Part of the skeleton that was between the north bound light rail tracks

1. School and the Walnut Hill Lane Loop
0.0 Steps at the church go up hill
0.06 Right on Maywood
0.18 Left on Boyce ( It can be busy but there are new speed bumps)
0.45 left onto school path along fence
0.55 bear left to stay along fence, dirt path (can stay on pavement)
0.63 left crossing white rocks thru gap in fencing to Walnut Hill Lane
0.88 left Crossmore (side track to see if there was connection to Maywood...Not)
0.95 end Crossmore, retrace steps
1.03 left Walnut Hill
1.27 right Sherwood
1.40 right Winespring
1.87 straight thru gate to continue on Winespring (small lending library, go past the road ends sign)
1.98 right into path from Ruxton ridge to the school (partially hidden in bushes)
2.04 right on school drive
2.16 rejoin paved path along fence
2.27 right Boyce
2.59 right Carrolton
2.64 end back at steps in front of church

approximate map that does not show the Sherwood/Winespring Loop, will complete next trip

many possible out and back extensions as desired. Circle Ruxton ridge for instance.  This walk can be extended into Towson for coffee, going briefly along Joppa,  behind Blakehurst and thru back lanes by the Towson Y.

2.  Explore Rider Hill
0.0 church steps go left or west on Carrollton
0.10 L Clinton
0.17 R Boyce
0.30 L Locust
0.52 L Berwick
0.86 Reverse -end of Berwick
1.00 L Rider Hill
1.10 Reverse end of Rider Hill
1.20 L Berwick (no sign)
1.40 L Locust
1.43 R Labelle
1.54 R Palding
1.65 L Locust (no sign?)
1.76 R Bellona
1.78 R dirt path along Boyce
1.89 L Clinton
2.00 R Maywood
2.20 R Boyce
2.27 end at steps

again just a start, once comfortable meander about Ruxton heights or go up to the end of Chelsea, keep a moderate pace for about an hour

3. Explore the Winds
0.0 church steps, go toward Boyce east in the parking lot
0.10 L Boyce
0.70 R Charles (traffic there is a side walk)
0.80 R North Wind
0.90 R West Wind
1.10 R West Wind Ct
1.20 Turn around end of Ct
1.30 R West Wind
1.40 L Malvern
1.50 L North Wind
1.70 R East Wind
1.80 Turn around
1.90 R North wind
2.00 L Charles
2.10 L Boyce
2.70 R into church end.

Greenwood south off of Boyce is an extra circle, Overbook North off Boyce is out and back. The two ends of Berwick almost meet, no obvious public path. Carrollton on the south of Boyce is out and back.  Each adds about  1/4 mile.

You will be around traffic at times,  but no more challenging than Hadrian's Wall

Wayne's Walk in only the part west of Bellona. Circle the "rugby field" and climb
Club Rd.  A short vigorous walk in all weather. Do the hill twice. Extensions like  to
Wagner Rd is at your own risk.

Here is a more complete map of the Walnut Hill/Winespring loop.  It includes an extension into Towson for a snack, about 7 miles.  The Greenwood return takes advantage of the light at the school to cross Charles.  Here is a brief summary starting from the white rocks behind the elementary school.  Walk starts from the church as before.

Walk down Walnut Hill to R on Sherwood, R on Winespring which will go through the gate, and continue all the way to Joppa Road. R on Joppa, (short stretch with little shoulder).  R on Greenwood,   L at the wooden gate thru the back of Blackhurst, L on Chestnut, R on Trafalgar, R on Piccadilly, L on Eton, L on Charles Way, R on Allegheny to the Y.  Have a Java Jolt smoothie or continue into Towson.  I came back down Greenwood to avoid Joppa Road.  Added the little loop off of Boyce, optional.

The last map is a possible extension from the Winds.  You will pass the remains of Bowen's Mill at the upper end of Towson Run.  There is a mill race and remains of the old road to the Lake Roland Gunpowder Mill. There is a nice climb on Roland View.  On the other hand it can be more natural unpaved along the creek and more chance of deer ticks.  At times the lower area floods with water that is at least suspect (see the efforts to improve the sewer system).  I am not aware of any problems but would not do any foraging along the run.  There are signs that construction may be imminent . It does involve a short stretch on Bellona,unless you do out and back.

An extension from the Winds, about a mile and a half.  Partly along the old road,
partly along Towson Run