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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.

Monday, 2 January 2012

Thurstaston Common, Royden and Caldy 1st January 2012

Walking through the Dungeon.
At the toposcope on Thurstaston Hil.
Passing Thor's Stone on Thurstaston Common.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.6 miles. Climb:695'.
Time:4 hours 30 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Roger, Annie H., Sue and Michel, Sylvia and Dave J., Carol and Tim, Sue and Dave, Fran and Tito.
A little on the warm side for this time of the year and  three members of the group were tempted to wear shorts. Only one completed the walk with legs exposed to the sun throughout the walk!
The weather was kind until we had crossed Thurstaston Hill and were heading for Royden Country Park. As we approached the rain started and was torrential by the time we reached the Visitor Centre and Car Park.  Thankfully the cafe was closed and we were able to take advantage of the canopy while we had lunch.  Martyn provided everyone with a piece of rum preserved fruit cake to fortify them for the rest of the trek.
After lunch the master chef and his helper decided to take the shortest route back to the car, on the pretext that he needed to check the meat was OK, have put it in the oven before joining the walk.
The rest of us headed for  Stapleton Wood. Half way through Stapleton Wood, three of the group decided to find their own way back to the car, but thankfully were reunited withe the rest of the party at Caldy Church.
The last part was either completed along the Wirral Way or along the beach.  The latter was the best choice for those with binoculars as the incoming tide pushed the feeding waders closer and closer towards us.
Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Winter wren, Chaffinch, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Black-billed magpie, Blue tit, Great tit, Long-tailed tit, Moorhen, Common coot, House sparrow, Common buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Oystercatcher, Knot, Curlew, Bar-tailed godwit, Dunlin, Great cormorant and Common redshank.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Wheatsheaf at Raby, where  Brinstage Trappers Hat Bitter went down well.
A good walk, which would have been even better had we not had to test out the waterproof properties of our gear!

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