Disley and Lyme Park 17th July 2012

The new way around the dodgy bridge, that blocked our way just over 14 months ago.

The entrance to the main hall at Lyme Park.

Bollinhurst Reservoir and The Cage.

Sue in front of the Quaker Meeting House, an unexpected find on the return route!

St Mary's Church at Disley.

Walk stats: Distance: 7.0 miles. Climb: 781'.

Time: 3 hours 31 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Sue Powell.

The weather forecast made us hopeful that we could complete the walk in a dry window. It wasn't to be and we had half an hour of rain, and a little longer when the low clouds prevented us from having any distant views.

It was good to see that the new raised boardwalk enabled us to get round the weak bridge and we could follow the walk as planned. It was good to see and hear some youngsters enjoying themselves as they tumbled down the grassy slopes below The Cage, despite the fact that it raining. I suppose anything is better than school!

As we approached the Bow Stones, the clouds did lift slightly and we manged to get a view of Shutlingsloe as we had hope.

The route through the new Millennium Wood, as expected was somewhat wet underfoot and the grass long enough to transfer their moisture to our trouser legs, just as they had dried off from the earlier rain.

The two surprises of the day was the Quaker Meeting House that seemed to be in the middle of nowhere and St Mary's Church that had been sign-posted off the Gritstone Trail at the start of our walk.

Birds seen or heard today included: Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Common starling, Carrion crow, Blue tit, Chaffinch, Common swift, Barn swallow, Meadow pipit, Mallard, Moorhen, Canada goose, Grey partridge, Common buzzard, Black-billed magpie, Winter wren and Chiffchaff.

Overall a good walk, just about right for testing out a new pair of walking boots, they still need a little more breaking in to get them just right!

We celebrated the completion of the walk with a superb Indian meal at the Chutney Lobster in Sale. I'm not sure about the name, but the food is great and really good value, especially on the early doors menu.