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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, 30 December 2010

Knutsford and the Peovers 30th December 2010

Paul pointing out Elizabeth Gaskell's grave the grounds of Brook Street Chapel, Knutsford.
On one of the access tracks from Blease Farm.
Is it a Teddy bears' picnic in the woods by Peover Hall?
"I'm not sure I want to be your friend!"

Walk stats: Distance:11.7 miles. Climb:85'.
Time: 5 hours 22 minutes. On the move walking average:2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average:2.2 m.p.h.
Group:Martyn, Roger, Sue and Michel, Paul C., Sylvia and Dave J. and Annie H.
Damp and murky it certainly was, but at least it wasn't cold, a polo shirt and shorts would probably more appropriate than overheating in Winter Paramo walking gear!
I thought that visiting two churches / cemetries would have been enough for Paul, but he insisted on visiting a third and taking us on a detour to visit Elizabeth Gaskell's grave in the grounds of the Brook Street Chapel!
Despite the guide book being more than 30 years old, route finding was relatively easy until we had to negotiate the path through buildings at Hillcrest Farm. Thankfully the residents of of the houses put us straight.
The houses and the number of horses pointed to this being a very prosperous area to say nothing of the magnificent Peover Hall.
Getting a little desperate we had lunch, sitting on two sets of tyres set out as part of an eventing circuit, but spirits were raised when Roger produced some of Margaret's homemade mince pies, just enough after Rhodri had raided the stock the night before!
As we approached Lower Peover the church bells rang out joyfully and about an hour later rang out again indicating the start and end of the Wedding service that was taking place. It's a good job that we didn't attempt to look in the church as we went through its grounds.
Birds seen or heard today included:Great tit, Blue tit, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, House sparrow, Mallard, Winter wren, Chaffinch, Pheasant and Blackbird.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Lord Elgan in Knutsford, where the beer of choice was Copper Dragon, Golden Pippin, but it ran out and some had to be satisfied with their second choice.

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