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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.

Wednesday 19 August 2020

Pale Heights and Delamere Forest From The Yeld Wednesday 19th August 2020

Pale Heights and Delamere Forest From The Yeld.
At Pale Heights.
Looking towards Flintshire,
Blackemere Moss Mere.
A juvenile Common buzzard, perched and calling out to be fed.
Another of the recently created meres in Delamere Forest.
Distance: 6.8 miles. Climb: 496'.
Time: 3 hours 11 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.1 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, David S., Wendy, Sue and Michel.
We all arrived early today, so we set off just after 09-30, hoping that we would at least get most of the walk in before the forecast rain arrived.  Thankfully we managed to complete all of the walk, without needing to put on waterproofs or deploy umbrellas.
it wasn't long before we reached Pale heights, with its superb views in all directions including Staffordshire, Lancashire, Flintshire and not forgetting much of Cheshire.
Arriving a Pale Heights were were greeted by the aroma of "wacky baccy" coming from a cyclist resting by the monument smoking a joint.  We didn't linger long or confront the smoker".
We were all amazed to see how much work had been built on the new Visitor Centre Complex and the number of youngsters queueing up at "Go Apes".
It was good to see lots family groups out walking and cycling in the forest, but we only heard one cyclist ring his bell to warn us of his approach.
As we continued on our walk, we saw several areas that had been allowed to reflood and create meres - all part of the overall plan to improve habitat and the biodiversity of the forest.
Birds seen or heard today included: Common blackbird, Wood nuthatch, Barn swallow, Mallard, European robin, Greylag goose and Common buzzard.
At times it was quite humid, especially when we went off the main tracks on paths lined by bracken. there was a little rain in the air about 12-00, so we decided to delay lunch until we arrived back at The Yeld, where if necessary we could have lunch in the cars. 
We all had drinks before heading for home, but David was the only one finish off his lunch before doing so.
In all we had had a good and enjoyable walk, all before the heavy rain started as we set off home in our cars.

1 comment:

Celia said...

Go easy on cyclists Martyn. The thing about ringing a bell on a bike is not that simple. Yes it may mean 'Here I am' but it can also mean 'Get out of my way!' which is pretty rude on a shared path. I never knew what to do for the best when I was on my bike and usually resorted to a sort of 'Hello!' which was innocuous but probably not a lot of help.