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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, 23 November 2013

Astbury Mere and More 23rd November 2013

Misty views of Astbury Mere from the West side.
Macclesfield Canal, heading to Hightown.
The Biddulph Valley Way.
Looking towards Bosley Cloud.
Our approach to Astbury and St., Mary's Church.
St. Mary's Church from the main gate.
Walk stats: Distance: 10.1 miles. Climb: 393'.
Time: 5 hours 13 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.9 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Celia.
Arriving at Astbury Mere, mist still hung over the mere, but despite the temperature being just above zero, it didn't feel cold.
  This was quite a varied walk with plenty of views, especially on the outward route, and heading towards Congleton on the Macclesfield Canal. A short section on the Biddulph Valley Way, a former railway line, was delightful.
  The canal section from Lambert's Lane towards Astbury, didn't have a lot to offer, and some of the sections across fields challenged the waterproofness of our boots!
 In Astbury we were fortunate to meet the minister and a couple pf parishioners coming out of St. Mary's Church, and they gave quite a bit of interesting information about this unusual Medieval church.
 Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Black-headed gull, Common coot, Mute swan, Mallard, House sparrow, Lesser black-backed gull, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Woodpigeon, Wood nuthatch, Blue tit, Common blackbird, Redwing, Black-billed magpie and Tufted duck.
  Overall a good walk, starting at Astbury Mere Country Park, with its excellent facilities and many maintained paths.
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Farmer's Arms at Kelsall, where Weetwood's "Cheshire Cat" was the beer of choice.

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