Barbridge and Around Hurleston Reservoir 19th December 2013

Heading West along the Shropshire Union Canal at Barbridge.

On the Middlewich branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Reaseheath Long horn cattle looking down on us!

Back on the canal, this time the Llangollen branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.

Show me the way home, back on the Shropshire Union Canal heading for Barbridge.

Walk stats: Distance: 10.8 miles. Climb: 293'.

Time: 4 hours 56 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Sue and Michel, Phil, Annie, Celia, Wendy and David S.

We set off along the canal in bright sunshine, optimistic that the weather was OK up to about lunch time. In fact the weather was superb, and I even had to take off my jacket for most of walk before lunch. The walk along the canals was very pleasant, and we were amazed to see so many narrow boats moored up along the canal and in the several marinas that we passed.  We passed Reaseheath Agricultural College, and that too had expanded considerably and couldn't be recognised as the one I saw in the 1970s!

 Lunch was take as we met the Shropshire Union Canal for the second time, where we could take advantage of two bench seats, just right for the number on the walk, four per bench.

 It was while we were sitting on this bench that Michel spotted a Kingfisher and shouted in enough time for the rest of us to have a chance of seeing it as it flew past.

 Wendy kindly provided us all  with  a piece of "English" bara brith, as it was 21st birthday again only yesterday. As it was the last walk before Christmas, Martyn provided fruit cake for those that were able to cope with the extra few calories after their bara brith..

 One or two of the fields we had to negotiate, suffered from the downpour last night and much effort was in to put in to trying to avoid either the mud or the  lying water.

 Birds seen or heard today included: Woodpigeon, House sparrow, Black-headed gull, Common pheasant, Common blackbird, Pied wagtail, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Common buzzard, Blue tit, Mallard, Canada goose, Farm yard goose (Greylag), Black-billed magpie, Canada goose, Redwing, Fieldfare, Mute swan, Moorhen and Kingfisher.

 After walk drinks were enjoyed in the very pleasant surroundings at the Old Barbridge Inn, where several Woodland brews went down well, and there was no complaints about the tea either!