Mow Cop as I've never seen it before in bright sunshine and blue skies!
Panorama from Mow Cop.
A surprise encounter as we crossed a rather boggy field.
A delightful Bluebell wood - bonus on this walk.
One of the many banks of Bluebells.
Another section of the Bluebell wood.
The original wooly-back sheep.
The path along Congleton Edge.
The Old Man of Mow.
Walk stats: Distance: 7.4 miles. Climb: 982'.
Group: Martyn, Mike and Celia.
Time: 4 hours 52 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.5 m.p.h.
This really was a superb day for walking. We arrived at the Mow Cop car park, with the sun shining and the folly with a bright blue background, the opposite to the last time we came when we could hardly see the folly from the car park. It was even warm enough for Mike to wear shorts!
I had planned a short extension to the main walk, but this would have involved dropping down almost to the canal, and then a steep climb back up to the Old Man - no-one seemed keen on the idea, so only the main described walk it was to be!
Most of the walk was dry underfoot, but one section through fields became a little boggy in places and the path seemed to disappear. This was when we came across a Highland cow lying in the reedy grass close to the path, so quiet that we could have easily passed without even noticing her.
Although this route wasn't the best part of the walk, it eventually lead us through a small wood that had a superb display of Bluebells, certainly one of the best Bluebell woods that I have seen for some time.
Lunch was taken as we entered the last field before Congleton Edge. Initially we were in a field with two horses, but one of them was too friendly for comfort and crossed the stile out of reach of the horses attempts get up close!
Although we hadn't intended to use the path close to the edge on Congleton Edge, we did end up using it rather than the Staffordshire Way.
This path is always a good option as it gives superb views towards Jodrell Bank, but a little hazy in the distance today.
Birds seen or heard today included: Black-billed magpie, Jackdaw, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Common pheasant, Woodpigeon, House sparrow, Winter wren, Common blackbird, Chaffinch, Blackcap and Barn swallow.
Flowers seen today included: Marsh marigold, Bluebell, Lesser stitchwort, Dandelion and Sorrel.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Farmers Arms at Tarvin, where five different Wetwood brews were on offer. Cheshire Cat was the brew sampled, but I did have Old Dog as a takeaway!
This walk will be repeated in the future, but not as a Winter walk. It will now be added to our Bluebell Wood Walks list.
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