Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest 4th June 2022

Macclesfield Forest from Tegg's Nose.

Passing through the Tegg's Nose Quarry.

Shutlingsloe from Tegg's Nose.

An orchid near the path below Tegg's Nose.

Bluebells in Macclesfield Forest.

Shutlingsloe from Macclesfield Forest.

A Barn swallow nesting in the entrance porch tp St., Stephen's Church in mAcclesfield Forest.

Lunch time near St. Stephen's Church, sheltering from the wind between the trackside walls.

Faster than some of us today!

On the way to Higher Ballgreave Farm and Lamaload Reservoir.

Higher Ballgreave Farm.

White Nancy from the road leading to Lamaload Treatment Works.

Walk stats: Distance: 9.5 miles. Climb: 2359' Wind assisted GPS reading, in reality about 1900'.

Time: 5 hours 47 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h.

Temperature: Max 16.8 Celsius. Min 15.2 Celsius.

Beaufort Wind Force: 2 - 4. Mainly a light breeze / gentle breeze, gusting to a moderate breeze.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Ed.

A much better day weatherwise than we were expecting, pleasantly warm for walking and not as windy, although fiding a sheltered spot for lunch wasn't easy.

This was a walk with plenty of ups and downs and lots of awkward stiles stiles to cross especially the old stone ones. This didn't help Ed who was suffering from several aches and pains that weren't eased much by the Ibobrufen tablet he had taken.

Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Chiffchaff, Winter wren, Woodpigeon, Black billed magpie, Mallard, Common whitethroat, Mandarin duck (female with at least 5 ducklings on Teggsnose Reservoir), Goldfinch, Skylark, Barn swallow, Common swift and Green woodpecker.

Lots of flowers still showing, including a single orchid and several flower meadows. Most of the Bluebells seen were well past their best, but they were still showing enough to give a bluish carpet in Macclesfield Forest as we approached Charity Lane.

Overall a good and varied and challenging walk, with all of us quite happy to get back to the cars and take our boots off and head for a suitable hostelry.

Well earned drinks were enjoyed at the Egerton Arms at Chelford, where Mobberley Brew House's Lady Ravenscroft and Lord Thomas Egerton were sampled.  Other beers from MBH and the Tatton Brewery were also available.