The path leading away from the Ranger's Cabin.
Leading the way.
Light coming through the trees in Well Wood.
The bridge over Rivacre Brook.
Still talking?
The first Bluebells, just past their best.
More Bluebells.
Lilly still leading the pack!
Rivacre Brook.
Another delightful woodland path.
Come back you've gone the wrong way.
Bluebells and Red campion in Clayhill Wood.
A few Bluebells looking a little better.
Not quite a waterfall, but it's the best you can get on Rivacre Brook in Clayhill Wood.
Having rest or still waiting for someone!
Rivacre Brook.
Lilly still in the lead!
"Which way now?"
"Come back, you are going the wrong way."
Walking around the golf course.
More of Ellesmere Port Golf Course.
The best Bluebells seen today, in the shade on the Golf Course.
More of Ellesmere Port Golf Course.
The path through Church Wood next to the Golf Course.
More of the Church Wood path.
A pond near the Golf Course - a direction helper!
This etched map on a stone was also indicative that we were on the right track.
The footbridge that we eventually crossed.
Heading towards the start of our walk.
Even closer to the cars now.
Distance: 4.1 miles. Climb: 23'.Time: 2 hours 25 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.4 m.p.h. Overall walking average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature: 16.8 Celsius in the shade (felt much warmer in the warm sunshine).
Beaufort Wind Force 0, Calm, but occasionally you could just about feel it!
Group: Martyn, Fran, Nigel, Elaine, Mike, Sue Pearson and Lilly.
As it was a short walk, expected to be just 3 miles, we had a later than usual start, leaving my house at 10-00 and Upton at 10-15.
The walk was in fact over 4 miles, and took much longer than we expected, so we didn’t get back home in time for me to go to the Graham Booth’s funeral as I had hoped. We did pass St. Mark's Church Saltney just at the time the coffin was about to be taken in! I would have just made6 it, but wearing shorts would not have been appropriate attire for a funeral!
The walk took longer than expected, as e tried to follow directions from an old book, and some of the features described we never spotted! We didn’t even spot Hooton Church, although we did spot the cemetery!
Nevertheless, this walk proved to a delightful woodland walk, with only a few open areas near the golf course. Today was perfect for walking, the sun’s rays creating a dappled effect on the paths was a delight to see.
This was one of our Bluebell Wood Walks, but the Bluebells seen today were mainly passed their best. Perhaps next year, we should try doing this walk in April, rather than May.
As well as Bluebells, we did see Meadow buttercups, Red campion, Primrose, Herb robert, Cowslip and Garlic mustard
Not many birds were seen or heard today, but those we did included: Wood pigeon, European robin, Common blackbird, Blue tit, Great tit, Great spotted woodpecker, Mallard and Jackdaw.
Butterflies seen included: Orange tip, Holly blue ansd Green veined white.
We all thought that this was a really delightful walk, and should be repeated again now that we have a better idea of where we should be going!
Good paths throughout the walk. Perhaps next time we will spot the totem pole and Hooton Church spire!
