Saltney Ferry to Chester along the riverside path 27th March 2019

Looking towards Chester from the Higher Ferry footbridge.

Lesser black back gull on the River Dee at Saltney.

The riverside path from Bumpers Lane to Chester.

Oystercatcher on Rver Dee between Saltney and Chester.

A capstan on the former Saltney dockside.

Looking across the river towards the former Saltney Dock.

A Teal on the River Dee between Saltney and Chester.

A Grey heron on the South bank of the River Dee opposte Sealand Road sewage works.

Looking towards Saltney from The Cop, Sealand Road, Chester.

Looking towards Crane Wharf from The Cop, Sealand Road, Chester.

Chester Racecourse from the riverside path.

Volunteers clearing up litter on the riverside path and river bank.
In less than an hour these volunteers had collectd ten sacks of rubbish, mainly cans and plastic and glass bottles.

looking across the weir towards Handbridge from The Groves.

A male Blackbird in Grosvenor Park.

Walk stats: Distance: 5.1 miles. Climb: 100'.

Time: 2 hours 12 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.3 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn.

As no-one else was available to walk today, I set off from home, intending to walk to Shotton on the riverside path from the Higher Ferry footbridge. However arriving at the footbridge I was met with a cool breeze that i would be heading into if I went in the direction of Queensferry, so I changed my mind and headed instead towards Chester with the wind on my back.

 Overall it was a pleasant day for walk, overcast in the main, although a light fleece was needed to make it feel comfortable. It was a pity that the Sun didn't appear in its full glory until after I had arrived home mid-afternoon.

As well as walkers, there was plenty of cyclists using the path, but thankfully most of them knew how to use a bell.

 Spring flowers were starting to show including Red dead nettle and White dead nettle.

 Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Great tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Herring gull, Lesser black back gull, Grey heron, European robin, Winter wren, Teal, Great cormorant, Oystercatcher, Woodpigeon, Common blackbird, Moorhen and Mallard.

 I finished the walk by enjoying a few of the brews on offer in the Wetherspoons Real Ale and Cider Festival at the Square Bottle. The best one sampled today was the Barbourne Cherry Bakewell Cider which I gave a score of 8/10.

 Only a short walk, but still very enjoyable