Alderley Edge, Nether Alderley and the Hough 5th January 2008

Alone in the woods!
St', Mary's Church - Nether Alderley.

Lunch at the Beacon.


Walk stats: Distance: 9.9 miles (at least 10 miles really after some of us had to park about half a mile away from the Cross Keys in Knutsford), Climb: 1110'.
Time: 4 hours 56 minutes; Walking average: 2.7 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Richard, Dave J., Celia, Fran and Tito.

The walk was completed in almost perfect weather conditions for this time of the year, cold and sunny and most of the time sheltered from any wind. This is not what one would describe as a spectacular walk, but nevertheless it provided a very enjoyable outing, and in the main avoided the public masses that frequent the very popular area on Alderley Edge. Even at our lunch spot at the Beacon we were only disturbed by an old dog hoping for a morsel from our lunch boxes. He got none Sylvia's cake was too good. This walk took around the countryside south of Alderley Edge with many of its houses obviously owned by the wealthy. The only church visited today was St., Mary's at Nether Alderley with its mausoleum to the Stanley family. We went past Nether Alderley Mill, but couldn't visit it because it is only open between Easter and October. The second part of the walk wasn't exactly as planned, part of the route had been closed due to the danger of an unstable boulder above the path.

Birds seen or heard today included; Robin, Blackbird, Pied wagtail. Jay, Magpie, Buzzard, Kestrel, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Blue tit, Great tit, Long-tailed tit, Coal tit, Mallard, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Woodpidgeon, Great spotted woodpecker and Fieldfare.

We also came across tw fine specimens of fungi. One a bracket fungus, may be Razor stop, and the other Jelly Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae), once called Jew's Ear Fungus.

After walk drinks were initially at the Angel in Knutsford where Holt's bitter and mild were in excellent form. However this Camra recommended hostelry did not meet with the approval of the majority of the group and we moved down the street to the Cross Keys where Timothy Taylor's Landlord and Blakemere's Snowy Owl were the order of the day.

Next time we are in the Knutsford area we will try the Lord Eldon on Tatton Street in the centre of the town, but will this meet the approval of the rest of the group. The Lord Eldon is the only CAMRA recommended pub in the 2008 Good Pub Guide!