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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 17 July 2010

Whitendale and Croasdale 17th July 2010

Martyn on the Salters Fell track - photo by Richard.
Looking back along the Holby Road in Croasdale - photo by Richard.
Looking down Whitendale, spot the Eagle owl if you can!
Richard after lunch on the Salters Fell track, heading for the Holby Road (Roman road).
The way ahead, following the yellow top markers!
Richard on the Holby Road.


Distance:13.3 miles; Climb:2000'.
Time:6 hours 39 minutes; On the move walking average:2.3 m.p.h.; Overall walk average:2.0 m.p.h.
Group:Martyn and Richard.
Unless you like rain today's weather wasn't good. It rained on and off all day with the odd five minute break when it wasn't raining. The only exception was 20 minutes while we had lunch and the last mile of the day! At least it wasn't cold and although much of the terrain was quite boggy we both kept our feet dry.
Slaidburn is a lovely village with superb public conveniences (even hot water) and a special set of taps with hoses inviting you to clean your boots, hopefully before going in the loos!
This superb walk would be even better on a warm sunny day after a long dry period!
The views along Whitendale and Croasdale, two quite remote valleys were quite stunning. We noticed that one path down Whitendale had been closed for safety reasons, apparently Eagle Owls were nest in the area! We didn't see any!
The trek up the Salters Fell track was quite tedious, forever following yellow topped posts along narrow indistinct paths until we reached Holby Road. We followed this Roman road for nearly 3 miles before arriving back on the road to Slaidburn.
Birds seen or heard today included: Barn swallow, House martin, Blackbird, Goldfinch, Stonechat, Kestrel, Buzzard, Black-headed gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Oystercatcher, Grey wagtail, Meadow pipit, Lapwing, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Song thrush, Red grouse, Redshank and Curlew.
In addition we had the delight of seeing a Brown hare lolloping down the road in front of us for quite some time, totally oblivious to our presence.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at Hark and Bounty in Slaidburn where Tirrel Old faithful was the beer sampled.






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