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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-7 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Sunday, 13 April 2008

Pilsbury Castle and Wolfscote Dale 12th April 2008

Richard and the "menhir".
Pilsbury Castle
Bird of the day!
Walk stats: Distance: 11.4 miles; Climb:1495'.
Time:5 hours 35 minutes;Walking average:2.5m.p.h.,Overall walk average:2.0 m.p.h.
Group:Martyn and Richard.
A very select group set off from the picturesque village of Hartington which seemed to be filled with young people embarking on a Duke of Edinburgh exercise. Thankfully we didn't see them for long. The weather today ranged from very warm and sunny to cool with hail storms, but in the main the weather was kind to us. The first route to Pilsbury Castle gave good views, particularly towards the castle and beyond. We had lunch back at Hartington, sitting on a bench by the memorial in the centre of the village. Here every bench was taken by walkers of all ages taking their lunch.
The second part of the walk in to Wolfscote Dale, as expected very popular and we seldom had any solitude, but this beautiful valley with its meandering river is always a pleasure to savour. It also provided us with excellent sightings of at least five Dippers. We did see Chiffchaffs, Skylarks and heard a Willow warbler, but we didn't see any Wheatear.
As you may guess we had to celebrate the walk at the Wilkes Head in Leek, where we quaffed Hartington Bitter before returning home.
Birds seen or heard today included:Blackbird, Rook, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Collared dove, Woodpidgeon, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Robin, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Dipper, Willow warbler, Stonechat, Skylark, Mallard, Grey heron, Wren, Piedwagtail and Meadow pipit.

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