Blackwood circuit walk

A walk in the scenic Wombat State Forest that also observes traces of the intensive gold mining in the region dating back to the gold rush era.
GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Easy, approximately 10km circuit walk with a couple of short steep hills. 
MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 10:30am at the Blackwood Hotel, 22 Martin St, Blackwood.  Travel west up the Western Highway, take the C318 exit toward Greendale/Blackwood, turn right onto Greendale Trentham Forest Rd, C318.  Turn right onto Martin St and the pub will be on your right.  Please park cars away from the main shops and pub, as we will be parked there all day. 
MAP REFERENCE: Melway map X909/609 grid E11 | VicRoads map 59 grid F9 or map 585 grid S2 | or Google map goo.gl/maps/YwBHyZYbhx92.
DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: Approximately 95km, 80 to 90 minutes drive.
FOOD: Carry lunch, snacks and at least 1 litre of water.  We will stop at St Erth Café in Jack Cann Reserve where coffee, tea and quality snacks may be purchased.
APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable supporting walking boots/shoes.  Choose clothing according to the weather forecast noting that it can be a few degrees cooler than Melbourne.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:
This walk is situated in the Wombat State Forest and traverses part of the Great Dividing Trail.  It loops down around Whipstick Creek through some beautiful open eucalypt forest, and mining water races to bring you back to the starting point at the Blackwood Hotel.  Along the walk there is historical evidence of various types of mining with both vertical and horizontal shafts.  All of the mining in the area was conducted by hand in very difficult conditions.   After the walk we can have afternoon tea at the local general store.  
FURTHER INFORMATION: www.ffm.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/21476/FS0112_-_Whipstick_Loop_Walk.pdf.

LEADER | BOOKING: Darren W. | by Thursday 27th September. Email the Leader if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under the Members->Leader Contacts tab when logged in to the website.