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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.

Thursday, 5 June 2025

A Two Canals Walk from the Anderton Boat Lift Museum 4th June 2025

Mallard family on the Trent and Mersey Canal.
More Mallards on the Trent and Mersey Canal. (FM)
Striding out on the Trent and Mersey Canal towpath.
Buttercups giving a splash of yellow along the Trent and Mersey towpath.
Flag iris on the Trent and Mersey towpath.
Fox, Grey heron and a Kingfisher wood carvings placed on tree stumps next tpo the Trent and Mersey Canal.
Bridge over the Weaver Navigation near the Leigh Arms at Little Leigh.
One narrow boat and one barge on the Weaver Navigation.
Somewhere in the picture are two mem in a canoe / kayak.
Approaching Saltersford Locks on the Weaver Navigation.
Exploring Saltersford Locks.
Leaving Saltersford Locks.
Nigel trying to work out what type of boat this is.
Insects visiting Bindweed.
Distance: 8.4 miles.
Climb: 276’
Time: 4 hours 44 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: 17.2 Celsius for most of the walk, measured 22.2 Celsius at lunch in the warm sunshine.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 – 2. Mainly a Light breeze, but never reached the Moderate breeze given on the forecast.
Group: Martyn, Mike, Nigel and Fran.
The weather turned out to be much better than forecast, more sunshine, just a few brief spots of rain and less wind than we expected.
The outward route took along the towpath of the Trent and Mersey Canal, and the return route took on the path next to the Weaver Navigation Canal.
We saw several families of Mallards, one Coot and cootlet and one Moorhen and chick
Masses of buttercups gave a delightful splash of yellow along most of the towpath.
Lunch was taken soon after starting the return leg along the Weaver Navigation path. E took advantage of a structure that according to Nigel contained the metal for the anodic protection of the nearby pipe line.
We only saw narrow boats on the Trent and Mersey Canal, but saw a variety of boats, including a kayak on the Weaver Navigation.
Birds seen or heard today included: Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Carrion crow, Chiffchaff, Cetti warbler, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Winter wren, Barn swallow, Great cormorant, European robin, House sparrow, Common buzzard, Herring gull, Rook, Common starling, Black billed magpie, Greenfinch, Mute swan, Sedge warbler, Common coot and Moorhen.
Arriving back at the Boat Museum, a member of the Canal and River Trust persuaded all of us to make a donation to trust, the least we could do after we had completed a walk on paths next to two canals.
We arrived back at the car, having had a very enjoyable leisurely walk. At least one member of the group would have liked to extend the walk to include the Marbury Country Park loop, but we ended up heading for the Morris Dancer in Kelsall for liquid refreshment. Beers from Brightside and Mancunian breweries were enjoyed by Fran, Nigel and Mike, while I enjoyed my pot of tea with two small jugs of hot water.

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