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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.

Saturday 6 February 2010

Grit Hill, Stipperstones and Linley Hill 6th February 2010.

There are pair of Red kites here somewhere!
Using "Ctrl+" several times may allow you to find them.
Waiting for the return of the "sheep busters"!
The slopes of the Rock with resident Hebredian sheep.
The Stipperstones that we will do next time!
Standing firm on Linley Hill!
Walk stats:Distance:10.6 miles; Climb:1457'.
Time 5 hours 20 minutes; On the move walking average:2.3 m.p.h.; Overall walk average:2.0m.p.h.
Group:Martyn, Richard, Roger, Dave J., Celia, Mike D and Catherine.
The weather forecast wasn't brilliant, but at least rain wasn't predicted and it would be warmer than earlier in the week. In fact after lunch the weather was glorious, bright sunshine, very warm and hardly ant wind, almost shorts weather! Most of us did end up in shirt sleeves, some even short sleeves!
This was the second walk that Catherine had had kindly agreed to lead. Catching the bus from Bishop's Castle to the start of the walk at Oldgrit and walking back via Shelve Pool, Grit Hill, The Bog, Nipstone Rock on the Stipperstone and over Linley Hill and down the Shropshire Way back to Bishop's Castle.
Heading up from The Bog to Stipperstone, Richard, with the aid of Martyn, progressed from being a "lamb buster" to a "sheep buster" as a large sheep was rescued from being trapped inside a hay feeder.
The highlight of the day, was having lunch on the slopes of Linley Hill when we were entertained by Red kites, some of which seemed to be displaying.
On occasions, our route was a little muddier than desirable, and at one point a large horse was a little too friendly, particularly for Celia!
Birds seen or heard today included:Blue tit, Great tit, Goldcest, Carrion crow, Rook, Raven, Kestrel, Jay, Starling, Collared dove, Chaffinch, House sparrow, Robin, Blackbird, Red kite and Buzzard.
After walk drinks were enjoyed yet again at the Six Bells in Bishop's Castle, Catherine's local. Big Nev's bitter was the beer of choice, a superb refreshing pint, just what you want after a ten mile walk.










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