Maud Valley runs off Howard Valley and the Maud Creek, that runs through the valley, begins just below Speargrass Hut. 4 trampers set off for a walk up this valley at about 9.50 on an overcast day, threatening showers. The start is at a locked gate approx. 750M from the start of the Howard rd. Permission was previously gained from the farmer for access and for about 2km we followed a farm road passing through paddocks with cattle, before the final gate and although still on a rough 4wd track the remainder of the valley did not appear to be farmed. After 1hr we had morning tea at an old sawmill that obviously is still used occasionally by the farmer. From here on we had multiple creek crossings and after passing through a beech forest we emerged into a wide flat grassy valley. From here we had views to the Travers Range beyond Speargrass Hut.

Maud Valley looking towards Speargrass Hut

This area had been a gold dredging area (stopped as recently as 1997). There were gold mining relics dotted around and Tony led us to an old gold miner's hut above the creek flat. It was in poor condition but photogenic.

Miners Hut Maud Valley

We all chuckled at a "monument" to the gold miners in the area - an enormous truck sized rock in the middle of the valley with a plaque "Please do not shift this rock, There is no gold underneath, we have looked. Signed - Gold miners of 1953".

Maud Valley Hut

Towards the end of the grassy valley we had a few more stream crossings, then a small rise in the landscape as we moved through a small patch of beech forest, before it opens out to a grassy flat where there is a large private hut.  We had lunch in the porch of this hut. There were many fungi in this area and on the whole trip, in places the air was redolent with the smell of fungi. We returned via the same route arriving at the cars at about 2.30.

It was a very pleasant trip - the rain stayed away, and the mining relics created interest.

Trampers: Tony, Oliver, Kelly (visitor) and Kath (leader and scribe).