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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: 2-10 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 2020:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage, Wendy Peers, Celia de Mengle, Wendy and Ian Peers, Roger Smith, Paul Collinson, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Celia de Mengle, Sue Pearson.

Saturday 19 February 2011

Shining Tor and One Lost Dog on Shutlingsloe 19th February 2011

Could we all start new careers as shepherds?
Being led down the hill by our new friend!
At the trig point on Shining Tor, new friend still with us!

Walk stats: Distance:11.7 miles. Climb:2418'.
Time: 6 hours 31 minutes. On the move walking average:2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average:1.8 m.p.h.
Group:Martyn, Dave J and Mike D.
At worst we were expecting showers, and for the first couple of hours it didn't disappoint!  However we didn't expect to see so much snow on the ground and having to walk in cloud for most of the day!  Thankfully it wasn't too cold!  we decided to miss out the summit of Shutlingsloe having been warned by a couple of walkers that our intended descent looked pretty awful to say the least.  It was as we skirted round Shutlingsloe on the Wildboarclough path that we first encountered the dog that rushed past us and looked as though it was leading us down to safety.  Little did we realise that this very friendly dog was to follow us all the way back to the car, despite several attempts to discourage it.  The dog had stayed with us for about 7 miles, all the way from Shutlingsloe to the Lamaload Reservoir car park. Back at the car, the temperature had fallen to about 1 Celsius, and we felt we coudn't leave the dog in these conditions and consequently had no alternative but to take the dog to Macclesfield Police Station who then directed us to Field Farm Dog Kennels at Eaton on the way to Congleton.
As we were now close to Congleton, we headed home via Nantwich and decided to call in at the Travellers Rest at Alpraham.  Weetwood Eastgate was the beer of choice served at the just the right temperature.  This was the first time that any of us had visited this wonderful welcoming little hostelry. Hopefully it won't be the last time that we visit this little gem!
An excellent walk, but we must repeat it again, but next time in the Summer months.
Much to our surprise a a former colleague, Brenda Wynne and her husband came in just before we left.
Birds seen or heard today included: Canada goose, Fieldfare, Black-headed gull, Great spotted woodpecker, Red grouse, Common buzzard and Carrion crow.

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