Burton, Neston and More 29th January 2025.

 

Looking at the Quaker Graves in Burton Wood.

The entrance to the Burton Wood challenge.

Which way now? Left or right?

They don't know either - they're just following us.

First views of Moel Famau.

Distant views of the Clwydian Hills and North Wales.

Common coots on a flooded field.

Greylag geese and Shoveler on the flooded field.

A Eurasian curlew in fields near the footpath.

Snowdrops just beginning to show.

Fran's better photo of Snowdrops on our walk today.

A better view of Moel Famau.

The pipeline of slurry disappearing into the distance.

The delightful path leading to the Wirral Way.

A new bridge being constructed on the Wirral Way - thankfully we didn't need to cross it.

A  delightful section of the Wirral Way.

The Fairy Garden and picnic site.

"Are you looking for my marmalade sandwich?"

A Carrion crow overlooks our lunch spot.

The Wirral Way through the Neston Cutting.

Distance: 7.8 miles. Climb: 1542’
Time: 4 hours 28 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.7 m.p.h.
Temperature: 4.4 Celsius at the start. 7.8 Celsius at lunch and 7.8 Celsius at the end.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 – 2. Mainly calm, but reached a 5.7 m.p.h. Light breeze near the end of the walk
Group: Martyn, Mike, Nigel and Fran.
We have done this walk many times and finding the way through Burton Wood to Mill Lane has always been a challenge. Today was no exception, and we emerged onto Wood Lane, not Mill Lane – failed again.
The surprise of the day was seeing a very long pipe system fill with slurry and move through the pipe into a field in the distance.
Lunch was taken on the Wirral Way, where we took advantage of suitably place tree trunks by the “Fairy Garden”. This was a pleasant lunch stop, as we basked in the warm sunshine, listening to all the birds singing in the trees nearby.
Birds seen or heard today: House sparrow, Dunnock, Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Common starling, Carrion crow, Woodpigeon, Blue tit, Coal tit, European robin Common chaffinch, Eurasian curlew, Mallard, Common coot, Greylag goose, House sparrow, Great spotted woodpecker, Goldfinch, Black billed magpie, Shoveler, Great tit, Tufted duck, Black headed gull, Great white egret and Common buzzard.
Overall, an enjoyable walk, despite the frequent muddy paths we encountered.
Thankfully, cleaning my boots, proved a ten-minute job which I managed to do just after getting home.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at Rake Hall, Little Stanney where Brimstage Brewery’s Trappers Had was the beer of choice. Despite the fact that the first pint seemed too cold, it didn’t stop a second pint being samples. Two of us decided that another pot of tea was not required!