The Old Man of Mow.
Mow Cop Folly in the clouds.
On the Mow Cop Folly steps.
On the Mow Cop Folly steps.
On The Cheshire Ring Canal towpath.
Lunch time by the canal.
Something is missing from these post next to the towpath / canal just before we dropped down to the Biddulph Valley Way.
I think that is Mike and Ed on the far side of Congleton Edge.
Walk stats:
Distance: 9.4 miles. Climb: 1050'.
Time: 4 hours 42 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Temperature: Minimum - 5.7 Celsius. Maximum - 7.7 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 - 1. Calm and occasionaly increasing to light air.
Group: Martyn, Ed and Mike.
We arrived at the The Cheshire Close view point just after 10-00, but alas there wasn't a view.
The weather forecast did mention thick cloud, but we didn't expect to be in it!
We started the walk by heading towards The Old Man of Mow and The Mow Cop Folly. We could just about make them out as they looked quite mysterious in their blanket of cloud.
This unfortunate weather didn't put off The National Trust Volunteers (at least four of them) litter picking around the Old Man and Folly.
As we descended towards the Cheshire Ring Canal, it seemed to clear up, but there was always a feeling of dampness in the air.
Usually you get views of the edge from the towpath, but today there was none!
Lunch was taken as we approached the edge of Congleton, where we took advantage of a bench and picnic table while we had lunch.
After lunch we continued along the towpath before joining The Biddulph Valley Way which was in the process of being resurfaced.
As we climbed towards Congleton Edge, it wasn't long before we were again in the clouds, but thankfully there was enough visability to cross the Edge to Nick i' th Hill.
It was on the next part of route on The Gritstone Trail between the Nick i' th Hill and Pot Bank that I tripped on a rock and managed to graze both shins, one knee and bruised one hand. Thankfully there was very little bleeding and only three plasters were needed to protect the injured parts!
We arrived back at the car to find there was even less of a view than when we had set off, and then discussed the need to have some form of high viz to attach to our rucksacks.
Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Collared dove, Woodpigeon, Black billed magpie, Blue tit, Wood nuthatch, Mallard Moorhen, Canada goose, Greylag goose, Goldfinch and European robin,
Overall a good walk, but a little disapponting for Ed that it was done in such poor visability.
After walk derinks were enjoyed at the Stamford Bridge, Chester, where Hide's brews were enjoyed by some and I had a good pot of tea (managed to get three cups out of it!)
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