A Gresty's Waste Round via Manley Common.
Distance: 9.5 miles, Climb: 960'.Time: 4.5 hours, Overall walking average: 2.1 m.p.h.
Walkers: Mike, David, Fran, Nigel, Sue and Michel
With a temp of around 7deg and no wind whatsoever this was a good day for walking. Whilst we were putting on our boots we noticed our good friend Dave Jenkins was about to walk from the same car park. It was great to see him.
Taking an early right from the main path we took the stile on to the old Roman Road towards Stoney Lane, but we soon left it to climb a muddy track in a straight line up to Pale Heights. Visibility was not good from the top, so we soon descended in the direction of Eddisbury Wood; a pleasant descent and new to some. The new cafe/visitor centre is quite impressive, but we resisted the lure of coffee and cake and proceeded to cross the railway line and head towards the eastern edge of Blakemere Moss, passing trough the GoApe High Wire Attraction on our way.
There was no cacophony of birds on the lake today as we skirted round and headed for the forest on the other side of Ashton Lane. Leaving the forest path to take a stile across the western edge of a field we headed north to Pinewood Farm and then in a westerly direction along a good track. After about a mile we came across the building work for Forest Holidays; something which has caused great concern to many. The track soon became difficult to pass due to long sections of deep mud and water, but eventually we reached the point on the path where we had to take a left to walk across a field. Beeston Castle and Peckforton Hills could be seen in the distance as we walked towards the stile to take us on to the road down to Manley Common; where a wall was a perfect location to have lunch.
From here we picked up the Sandstone Trail leading us back into the forest, and across Ashton Lane towards a bridge over the railway line. Following a steady incline of the Sandstone Trail we headed south back towards the car park. Birds seen or heard included: great spotted woodpecker and European robin.
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