Walks and Dates December 2013

Thursday 5th December 2013.

Around Helsby Hill and Frodsham Marshes.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb:800'.
Start: Frodsham Main Car park (Turn right at traffic lights off Helsby Road and then left immediately after the Helter Skelter pub. Grid ref: SJ517778.
Leave Chester at 9-00 a.m.
The Helsby part of the walk is taken from Jen Darling's book "More Pub Walks in Cheshire and the Wirral". Her walk starts at the Netherton Hall, but we will start in Frodsham and use the Sandstone Trail to link with the walk by the golf course. After completing the circuit at Netherton Hall, we will return to Frodsham using some of the many tracks/footpaths that wind their way around Frodham Marshes. Frodsham Marshes can be good bird watching area, so bring your binoculars with you.

Saturday 7th December 2013.

Wybunbury, Weston and Hough.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1000'.
Start: Roadside parking in Wybunbury. SJ699498.
Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.
This is another walk taken from the OS Pathfinders Guide to Cheshire, with an extension to include Weston and Hough.  The main walk is described as exploring the undulating countryside of South Chechire. Hopefully we will be able to explore Wybunbury Moss Nature Reserve.

Thursday 12th December 2013.

Burton and Parkgate.

Distance:10 miles. Climb:500'.

Start: Roadside parking on Denhall Lane next to benches overlooking the marshes. Grid ref: SJ301747.

Leave Chester 9-00 a.m.

The Burton circuit is taken from Jen Darling's book "Walks in West Cheshire and the Wirral". The extension will involve some road walking through Neston to link up with the Wirral Way and onto Parkgate. The return route will use coastal paths as much as possible and pass Neston Old Quay and Denhall Quay on the way back to Denhall Lane.

Saturday 14th December 2013.

No walk.

Thursday 19th December 2013.

Barbridge and Acton Round.

Distance: 10 miles. Climb: Not a lot!
Start: Roadside parking near the Barbridge Inn. Grid ref: SJ614568.
This walk allows us to explore the countryside between Barbridge and Acton. This is a new area to us a far as walking is concerned.. The walk includes sections of the Shropshire Union Canal and the Llangollen Canal, but hopefully we will remain on the towpath!  As we walk very close to a specialist Horse Veterinary Centre, I expect we will see a few horses in the fields around. We also go past Reaseheath College, so any animal husbandry might been seen there as we go past.

Saturday 21st December 2013.

Hartington Old Station, Aleck Low and Minninglow.

Distance: 12 miles. Climb: 800'.
Start: Hartington Old Station Car Park. Pay and Display. Grid ref: SK149612.
Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.
This walk combines two walks from Mark Richards's book "White Peak Walks - Southern Dales". Slightly longer than usual, but much of the walk will be easy going as it uses the High Peak Trail and the Tissington Trails along disused railway tracks.  If I remember correctly this walk proved delightful, with plenty of things of interest on route and good view, particularly from the High Peak Trail.

Thursday 26th December 2013.

No walk.

Saturday 28th December 2013.

Deganwy Castle and Around the Great Orme.

10 miles. Climb: 1000'.
These main walks is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast.  We have done the Great Orme many times, but Deganwy Castle hasn't been done quite so often. The extension will probably be a stroll along the invalids terrace and back along the toll road.