Tegg's Nose, Macclesfield Forest and More 29th May 2019

Boys toys at Tegg's Nose Country Park.

Macclesfield Forest and Shining Tor from Tegg's Nose.

A Mandarin duck with some of her ducklings on Teggsnose Reservoir.

One of the two female Mandarin ducks on the Teggsnose Reservoir.

Rabbits on the hillside opposite Teggsnose Reservoir.

Walking through Macclesfield Forest with Bluebells still showing on the slopes next to the path.

An unusual insect at my lunch spot.
I think it is a Froghopper(a bug)  - Cercopis vulerata.

Lunch time comfort for some.

Marchin towards the Buxton Road (Shuttlingsloe) on the skyline).

Is this really the right way to Vale Royal and Walker Barn?

A small Methodist chapel on Buxton Old Road.

One of the Buttercup meadows near Tegg's Nose Country Park.

Walk stats: Distance: 7.5 miles (8.2 miles on my newest GPS). Climb: 1703'.

On the move walking average: 2.2 m.p.h. (2.6 m.p.h. on my newest GPS). Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.

Group: Martyn, Roger, Nigel, David S and Wendy.

As we set, we were unsure about what sort of weather we would get, but we were optimistic that it wouldn't rain before 14-00. Forecasts varied from feel like temperatures of about 9 Celsius down to a feel like temperature of only 3 Celsius.

 We set off by going on the Gritstone Trail through the quarried sections of Tegg's Nose Country Park and descending the steep path over Ward's Knob down to Teggsnose Reservoir.

 I was surprised to see a female Mandarin duck with her ducklings.The second surprise of the day was still seeing Bluebells, most past their best, but some still looking good.

 As we were walking through sections of Macclesfield Forest, we became exposed to the North westerly wind that added a significant chill factor.

 Lunch was taken on the edge of Macclesfield Forest as the path emerged onto Charity Lane. One bench was available, but the nearby stone wall provide good places to sit as well.

 As I was sitting having my lunch, an orange and black insect landed on my boot and a few more similar insects were nearby.  I thinik I have now identified it as a Froghopper ( Cercopis vulerata) found in wooded area.

 After lunch we descended Charity Lane to Forest Chapel, before heading across fields and valleys to Greenways Farm. Thankfully today conditions underfoot were good.

 it was just before two, when we started to feel a little dampness in the air, and the majority of the group decided that we should opt to shorten the walk a little b heading for Vale Royal and Walker Barn. It was on this section that we all stopped o make sure we had waterproof jackets on and gloves as well. Yes it did now feel like the 3 Celsius suggested by the Met Office.

 Many flowers were seen, including: Bluebells, Herb robert, Stitchwort, Wood anemone, Daisy, Dandelion, Red clover and masses of Buttercups.

 Birds seen or heard today included: House sparrow, Carrion crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Common chaffinch, Goldfinch, Pied wagtail, Canada goose, Mandarin duck, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Black-billed magpie, Meadow pipit, Skylark, European robin, Winter wren and Eurasian curlew.

 We arrived back at the cars, a little damp, but agreed that we had made the right decision to shorten the walk, especially at it rained all the way to the Morris Dancer at Kelsall where we all enjoyed our respective drinks including two brews from Weetwood, the Brunning and Price Bitter and even a G and T.

 Overall a very good walk with a lot more climb involved than some expected or even wanted!