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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.

Saturday, 26 November 2011

Bakewell, Chatsworth Park and the River Wye 26th November 2011

Female goosander on the Derwent at Chatsworth Park.
Red deer in the rain at Chatsworth Park.
Male Tufted duck on the Derwent at Chatsworth Park.
Grey wagtail on the Derwent at Chatsworth Park.
Autumnal colours between Carlton Lees and our lunch spot.
Walk stats: Distance: 10.1 miles. Climb: 1567'.
Time: 4 hours 35 minutes. On he move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Dave J., Mike D and Celia.
Weather was expected to be mainly on the dull side, with a little Sun and possibly some showers.  This was pretty well what we got, but the showers were merely a dampness in the air and didn't warrant a stop to put on waterproofs!  In the main views were good, but today some of the birds that we saw were the highlight of the day.
It started well as we descended the track to Elsenor, when we saw a Treecreeper (they've been quite elusive this year, then we saw a Goosander on the Derwent as we approached Chatsworth Park and further down the river we had good views of a Grey wagtail (spotted first by Celia, that must be a first!), and later on we saw four Common crossbills at Carlton Lees ( first for the blog and definately the birds of the day).  In addition we saw a large number of Red deer on the slopes above the river at Chatsworth Park.
Birds seen or heard today included: Common crossbill, Collared dove, Black-billed magpie, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Rook, Winter wren, Blue tit, Great tit, Chaffinch, Black-headed gull, Mallard, Canada goose, Common coot, Moorhen, Tufted duck, Grey wagtail, Long-tailed tit, House sparrow and possiblt a Sparrowhawk.
After walk drinks were enjoyecd by all but one at the Wilkes Head in Leek where Hartington Bitter was the icing on the cake after a good walk.  Sadly Dolly, the landlords dog, is no longer with us.
I must remember not to visit Bakewell this near Christmas, parking was horrendous and if one car owner hadn't moved his car, I think we would have still been there!

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