The first climb of the day through the NT Helsby Hill Property.
Heading through a cutting in the sandstone on the way to the Longster Trail path.
Violets on the roadside.
The Mersey estuary from the Sandstone Trail as we approached Frodsham.
The view from our Frodsham Hill near the Overton War Memorial.
Liverpool Anglican Cathedral from our lunch spot.
Roger's lunch spot.
The Pelissier's lunch spot.
A tasteful information board at the Frodsham Hill Overton War Memorial.
On the Sandstone Trail around Frodsham Hill.
On the Sandstone Trail around Frodsham Hill.
looking over Helsby from the Sandstone Trail on Woodhouse Hill.
It's all down hill now, but that's wishful thinking!
Walk stats: Distance: 7.0 miles Climb: 946'.
Time: 5 hours 0 mimutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.4 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Roger, Nigel, David S and Wendy.
This was a good day for walking, dry with ome sunny spells, very little breeze and no more than the odd spot of rain, only noticed by those that were follicly challenged!
Despite temperatures being in single figures, the fact that were were wearing Winter gear meant that at times some of us were in danger of overheating.
Although we have had lots of rain over the past week or so, conditiond underfoot weren't as bad as they have been in the past and my boots for one took little time to clean.
The muddiest section today were on sections of the Sandstone Trail, particularly on the West side of Snidley Moor Wood and around Frodsham Hill.
It was noticeable today that Spring flowers starting to show including Dog violets, Periwinkles, Daffodils and Snowdrops. Some trees were starting to get blossom and hedges were starting to green up.
The surprise of the day was seeing a drake Mandarin duck and a Pintail on a pool East of Helsby Hill.
Lunch was taken on Frodsham Hill where we took advantage of the benches next to the Frodsham Hill Overton War Memorial. We were able to enjoy the views over the estuary as far as Liverpool Catedral as well as seeing the old Runcorn Bridge and the new Mersey Gateway bridge.
We probably had a longer lunch break than usual as it was so pleasant sitting there and enjoying the view. This as well as the time I spent looking at the Mandarin duck and Pintail would account for our overall walking average being only 1.4 m.p.h.
Birds seen or heard today included: House csparrow, Great tit, Blue tit, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, European robin, Greylag goose, Mallard, Common gull, Pintail, Wood nuthatch, Common blaclbird, Winter wren, Eurasian jay, Black-billed magpie, Moorhen, Carrion crow, Jackdaw and Common buzzard.
Approaching Helsby Hill on the return journey, we descended to the road a little too early and had a little more road walking than we liked.
Although it was only a 7 mile walk, the near 1000' of climb meant that we were ready to head to the White Lion at Alvanley for refreshments. The Robinson's brews sampled were Dizzy Blonde, Cumbria Way (On Cask Finder this had a 5 * rating) and Wizard.
Overall an enjoyable varied, stile free walk, worth doing again at a different time of the year.
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