The view from Alderley Edge, looking towards Manchester.
The waterfall in Waterfall Wood on Alderley Edge.
St., Catherine's church, Over AlderleyWalk stats: Distance: 8.9 miles; Climb:1091'.
Time: 4 hours 43 minutes; Walking average: 2.4 m.p.h.; Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Richard, Tito, Celia, Michael, Paul, Sue Powell, Sylvia and Dave J.
This pleasant and gentle walk seemed like a Thursday walk with the turnout of nine being the largest group for some time.
It was also completed in better than expected weather conditions, with the sun being out for most of the walk. The strong north westerly winds weren't as strong as they were forecast. Nevertheless it was still cool at times, encouraging us to keep on the move. It didn't rain, but in places it made up for it with wet, muddy and boggy conditions underfoot.
The climb was surprisingly over a thousand feet and several places gave good views towards Manchester and across the Cheshire plain to Beeston and beyond. This was a good walk and one we will repeat with a few minor alterations to avoid some of the minor road walking. Lunch was taken in the grounds of St., Catherine's church, Over Alderley where a seat was available for some of us. St., Catherine's church was built in 1840, and constructed in what seemed like a rather cheap looking brick, but it had an octagonal tower, a feature that made it stand out as out of the ordinary. Tito seemed on a mission, as his ruck sack became fuller and fuller with samples of holly with berries. I only hope he left some for the birds!
Birds seen or heard on the walk today included: Grey Heron, Blackbird, Pochard(first sighting this year), Mallard, Buzzard, Kestrel, Blue tit, Long-tailed tit, Great tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion crow, Starling, Robin, House sparrow and Nuthatch. At one time, just after lunch, a party of several hundred Starlings entertained us with thier shoal like movements across the sky, often performed before they drop down to roost.
Celia was convinced that we had tried to lose her on the way back, accusing us of not waiting for her and giving her the Kings Head as the pub where we were going for a drink, but Tito came to the rescue ignored all directions given but still located us in the Cross Keys, Knutsford which was the correct name of the place that we intended to go. Timothy Taylor Landlord, Deuchars IPA and Coach House Cranberry Ale were quaffed with relish in surroundings that seemed better than the last time that we were there.
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