Walks and Dates February 2013

Updated 16th February 2013.

13th February 2013.

Congratulations.

Congratulations to Annie and Matt Ravazzolo Jones on the save arrival of their daughter, Sylvie on Wednesday (evening) 13th February 2013. The baby was 7 lb 11  onz. Annie and baby all well.

Congratulations to Fran and Tito on becoming grandparents again.

Saturday 2nd February 2013 
Postponed, Billy no mates again!
This walk is  now on Saturday 13th April 2013

Barthomley, Englesea-brook, Weston and its Western Fringes.

Distance: 8-10 mile. Climb: 500'.
Start: Roadside parking near Barthomley Church or the village Hall car park. Grid ref: SJ767524.
Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from the "Pathfinder Guide to Cheshire". It describes the walk as one which explores the pleasant and gently undulating countryside, visiting the interesting villages of Barthomley and Englesea-brook. Can be muddy in places and there are over 50 stiles, some requiring reasonable agility!

Thursday 7th February 2013.

A walk Around Coed Llandegla.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 600'.
Start: Llandegla Car Park On Ffynnon Tegla (opposite the school, behind the bus stop. Grid ref: SJ19655238.
This is a change of start point. Michel informs me that Coed Llandegla Visitor Centre Car Park is Pay and Display minimum £4-50 per car. Our walk will be as planned, except that the link to Llandegla along the Clwydian Way, adds just over two miles to the walk. The original walk was about 8 miles, without any extension.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Ruabon Mountain, the Clywedog and Hope Mountain". Most of the walk is along forest tracks and passes the RSPB hide that overlooks the moor, known to be breeding grounds for Hen harrier and Black grouse.

Saturday 9th February 2013.

Mow Cop, Congleton Edge and the Cheshire Ring Canal.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: 1800'.
Start: Mow Cop National Trust Car Park (Members only, bring your membership card or car park badge). Grid ref: SJ856573.
Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.
This walk combines a walk from Carl Rogers's book "Circular Walks Along The Gritstone Trail" and part of a walk taken from the "Pathfinder Guide to Cheshire". This walk is a little shorter than the one that w did in 2008. Good views from the ridges.

Thursday 14th February 2013.

Leasowe Lighthouse to New Brighton.

Distance: 9-11 miles. Climb: 200'.
Start: Leasowe Lighthouse car park. Grid ref: SJ251913.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This is a walk along the beach to Perch Rock Fort, assuming that the water on the incoming tide is low enough. High tide at 13-40 (30.9' /9.4 m). From there, we will continue onto Vale Royal Park (where we in the past we have had lunch) and onto Wallasey Gardens. Hopefully the weather will be kinder than it was last year when we had to take advantage of the shelters at New Brighton.
There will be plenty of birds to see as the tide comes in, so bring binoculars with if you have any.

Saturday 16th February 2012.

Postponed- Billy No mates again!

Barthomley, Englesea-brook, Weston and its Western Fringes.

Distance: 8-10 mile. Climb: 500'.

Start: Roadside parking near Barthomley Church or the village Hall car park. Grid ref: SJ767524.

Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.

This walk is taken from the "Pathfinder Guide to Cheshire". It describes the walk as one which explores the pleasant and gently undulating countryside, visiting the interesting villages of Barthomley and Englesea-brook. Can be muddy in places and there are over 50 stiles, some requiring reasonable agility!

The Stipperstone Ridge and Green Hill.
This walk is postponed until Saturday 29th June 2013

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: Stipperstones Car park, East of The Bog, East of the A488, South of Gavels. Grid ref: SO369977.
Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.
This is another of the walks taken from Steve Goodier's book "Walks in the Shropshire Hills". I know the popularity of this little ridge means that walking here isn't everyone's cup of tea, but when viewed from the Long Mynd it always looks inviting. We haven't completed a walk on the Stipperstones for over 10 years, so I thought it was worth giving it an airing. The Stipperstones walk is only 6 miles, so we will extend the walk Eastward to include Green Hill. Oak Hill and Castle  Ring Fort.

Thursday 21st February 2013.

Wilmslow to Mottram and More. 

(Possible extension to Twinnies Bridge)

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 800'.

Start: Car Park near to St Bartholomews Church, Wilmslow next to the Carrs Recreation Ground Area. Grid ref: SJ848815.

Leave Chester at 08-45 a.m. An earlier start than usual, as the start is a little further than we usually go. This should allow us to start walking before 10-00 a.m.

This walk is taken from Graham Beech's book"East Cheshire Walks", with an extension using a second walk from the book. This is the same walk planned for 20th September last year, but we didn't complete the Mottram part of the walk. This time we will complete the Mottram part of the walk first toe ensure that it will be completed this time.

Saturday 23rd February 2013.

Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest.

Distance: 9 miles. Climb: 1000'.
Start: Tegg's Nose Country Park Car park. Pay and Display. Grid ref: SJ950732.
Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.
This walk is taken from the "Pathfinders Guide to Cheshire". It is described as a varied walk with good views from Tegg's Nose. We will visit Tegg's Nose first, rather than at the end of the walk. The walk is also described as an undulating walk exploring the countryside on the edge of the Peak District.

Thursday 28th February.

Penycloddiau and Moel Arthur.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1500'.
Start: Llangwyfan Forestry car park: SJ138688.
Leave Chester 09-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks in the Clwydian Hills".  This area of the Clwydians has so much to offer, and Moel Arthur and Penycloddiau are particularly good.  On a good day the views from both hill forts is superb.

Tegg's Nose and Macclesfield Forest 24th February 2013

Who is it playing on the the Tegg's Nose Crane?

Goosander on Teggsnose Reservoir.

Forest Chapel, Macclesfield Forest.

Looking towards Shutlingsloe.

Evidence that it was still on the cold side.

The type of stone stile that Celia would appreciate!

Walk stats: Distance: 10.0 miles. Climb: 1865'.

Time: 6 hours 30 minutes. On the move walking average: 1.9 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike and Carole H.

Another good day for walking, a little on the cold side in the wind with the occasional snow flurry, and ice on the ground, especially on Chancery Lane leading to Forest Chapel.  Good views all day.

Lunch was taken early in Macclesfield Forest, so that we could shelter from the wind.

Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Rook, Common buzzard, Common blackbird, Long-tailed tit, Coal tit, European robin, Common blackbird, Goosander, Mallad, Canada goose, Little grebe, Great cormorant and black-headed gull.

This is a superb, varied roller coaster of  a walk, well worth repeating, in fact it is the third time that I have done this walk in the last twelve months.

After walk drinks were enjoyed in the warm environment of the Bird in Hand in Mobberley for the second time within a week. The only other hostelry that has that distinction is the Britannia Inn at Halkyn!

Wilmslow to Motram Bridge and More 21st February 2013

Heading across the fields near Motram.

A delightful Poplar lined drive leading to Dean Farm.

Is it a running start?

Wilmslow Parish church - with justten minutes to get back to the car!

Walking through Lindow Common.

The Carrs.

Walk stats:  (Wilmslow to Motram Bridge) Distance: 6.7 miles. Climb:392'.

Time: 2 hours 50 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.

Walk stats: (Twinnies Bridge, Lindow Common and The Carrs) Distance: 2.6 miles. Climb: 106'.

Time: 1 hour 4 minures. On the move walking average: 2.9 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.5 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Mike, Wendy and Annie.

We arrived at the Carrs / Wilmslow Parish Halll Car Park, and to our surprise we found that it was a short stay car park, maximum 3 hour stay, and it was a pay and display car park!

The described walk was said to be 5 miles, so we set off expecting to have plenty of time, but in reality we arrived back at the cars just in time, the walk turned out to be over six miles!

An interesting walk that enabled us to see how the other half lives, no  need to worry about the size of benefits for the residents in most of the  houses / country mansions that we went past.

The best part of the walk along the Bollin Way alongside the River Bollin, and it would have been good to linger as we followed the rivers meandering course, but the threat of a parking fine if we were back too late, meant that this was not possible today.

We moved the cars to the Twinnies Bridge Car Park (free) and before setting off on a gentle afternoon stroll, we had lunch sitting at one of the many pic-nic tables nearby.

Overall the weather was superb for walk, warm and sunny, but still cold enough that potential muddy sections remained quite firm.  The only time that I was forced to wearing a woolly hat was as I ate my lunch, and I was glad to put on my mitts as we headed for Lindow Common. The walk after lunch seemed like a stroll in the park in an area where we dog walkers were seldom far away.

Birds seen or heard today included: Black-headed gull, Common buzzard, Common kestrel, Common blackbird, Redwing, Common starling, Lapwing, European robin, Blue tit, Great tit, Winter wren, Common coot, Moorhen, Mallard and Woodpigeon.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at what must have been the warmest pub in Britain, the Bird in Hand at Mobberley, there was a real fire in every room, and there were at least five that we could see. The only beer on offer was Sam Smiths Old Oak Bitter, but even this went down well. The Fair Trade Tea went down well too.

Overall  a good walk, but next time we will start at our usual car park at Twinnies Bridge.  The warm welcome at the Bird in Hand, means that we will call there again, especially if it is after a walk on cold day!

A Coastal Walk From Leasowe Windmill 14th February 2013

Most of the walk.

Safely back on the promenade - the tide now up to the wall!

H.M.S Illustrious heading for Liverpool.

H.M.S Illustrious from New Brighton.

A different kind of boat under construction from flotsam.

Purple sandpipers, Turnstone and Common redshank on the pontoon in New Brighton marina.

The bird of the day - a Common scoter.

Walk stats: Distance: 11.0 miles. Climb: 150' (Wind assisted G.P.S gave 586').

Time: 4 hours 53 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.8 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Annie, David S., Phil, Sue and Dave P.

What a glorious day for a walk along the beach, sunshine all day. The sea seemed along way off, with high tide at 13-30, but we nearly got caught out as we approached New Brighton, but we manged to escape up steps, having had to retrace our steps to find a set of steps without a channel of water in front of them. 

On the beach there were an impressive number of gulls, mainly Black-headed gull, Herring gull and Lesser black-backed gulls. However the bird of the day was undoubtedly a Common scoter, only 50 metres off the walk at high tide.

An unexpected bonus today was the sighting of H.M.S Illustrious as it headed for the Pier Head, Liverpool.  We managed to watch it from the point where it was at sea in the distance, all the way in to Liverpool and Pier Head.

Lunch was taken at New Brighton, where there were plenty of benches to use and watch the Illustrious as she sailed past us up the River Mersey.

The return route was back along the promenade, but this time we had to head in to a stiff breeze, a little stronger than the forecast 10 m.p.h.!

Another feature of the day was the number of dogs being walked, must have been well over a hundred!

Birds seen or heard today included: Skylark, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Black-headed gull, Herring gull, Lesser black-backed gulls, Eurasian curlew, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Purple sandpiper, Great cormorant, Common redshank, Great black-backed gull, Oystercatcher and Common scoter.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Wheatsheaf at Raby, where Brimstage, Trappers hat went down well, and there is always a warm welcome.

Around Mow Cop 2nd February 2013

Mow Cop Castle at the start of the walk.

The Old Man of Mow.

On Congleton Edge.

Almost a view as we descended from Congleton Edge.

On the Gritstone  Trail.

The Old Man of |Mow again.

Mow Cop Castle at the end of the walk.

Walk stats: Distance: 8.8 miles. Climb: 879'.

Time: 5 hours 15 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn and Mike.

We arrived at the car park in mist and with the ground decked with snow. We were informed by a local National Trust ranger that the car park can only be used for more than 2 hours by National Trust Members, thankfully I have kept up my membership.

The views all day were somewhat limited, but at one point we did mange to see Joderell Bank telescope in the distance.

As usual, when Mike and I get talking we miss paths that we should have taken, thankfully to day we ended up near Congleton Edge Methodist Church, and decided to take a path along the Eastern edge of Congleton Edge, a superb little ridge that proved to be the highlight of the day's walk.

Another unexpected change to the route, resulted in us getting back onto the Gritstone Trail West of Congleton Golf Course. This was a delightful walk of just over a mile along the old railway track.

Overall a good walk that would have been much better on a warm pleasant Summer day after a dry period. Sections on the walk could challenge the Peak District for mud!

Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, European robin, Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Common buzzard, Woodpigeon, House sparrow, Chaffinch and Black-billed magpie.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Framers Arms in Kelsall.  Weetwood's Eastgate Bitter went down well.

A Walk in Coed Llandegla 7th February 2013

We're about to climb and the snow clouds are hanging over the forest.

Should we continue walking or go back to Llandegla Church for a cup of tea?

A forest track with a coating of snow.

The lake near the visitor centre, surrounded by snow, but thankfully no ice.

The last stand for Carole's walking pole.

Wooden Black grouse sculptures were all most of us saw!

The same field as the first photo, but the snow has gone!

Walk stats: Distance: 11.3 miles. Climb: 1345'.

Time: 6 hours 3 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Annie, Phil, Celia, David S., and Carole H.

We arrived at the car park i9n Llandegla in a heavy snow storm, making us a little concerned about the road conditions on our return journey across Llandegla Moors.   We needn't have worried as the snow had cleared from the roads as the snow had turned to rain!

In the end it turned out to be quite a pleasant walk around the forest, not many other walkers, butn a few more on their mountain bikes.

Although it was quite good walking, we did arrive back at the car with rather wet coats. I nearly lost  one of my gloves again, but managed to retrace my steps and found it again, and Carole lost her walking pole, which we failed to locate, despite retracing our steps to the last point where we knew she still had it.

However she did have the consolation, that she was the only one to see Black grouse (verified by Geoff Robinson who was at the hide at the same time.

Bird seen or heard today included: Carrion crow, Great crested grebe, Rook, Black grouse, Greenfinch, Blue tit, Great tit, Common blackbird and House sparrow.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Red Lion in Penyfford, where Tomothy Taylor, Landlord went down well as Michel had earlier told the bar person it would! The cup of tea was good too!