Redes Mere, Siddington and Capesthorne Hall February 2025.

Redes Mere.

The Black swan on Redes Mere.

A Mute swan on Redes Mere.

Redes Mere from the lane by the parking area.

Snowdrops on the grass verge near Redes Mere.

This could be the climb of the day!

Daffodils ready for the 1st March.

Sutton Common from Henshall Hall Farm Track.

Jodrell Bank Telescope from Henshall Hall FarmTrack.

Crocuses showing well 

At lunch.

Just before he started to sing and dance.

A delightful path through the woods.

Taking a closer look at Capesthorne Hall

Redes Mere Lake from the North.

Distance: 8.2 miles. Climb: 436’
Time: 4 hours 30 minutes.
On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h.
Overall walk average: 1.8 m.p.h.
Temperature: 10.2 Celsius at the start. 8.8 Celsius to 11.2 Celsius, except for a brief time after lunch when the Sun went behind the clouds and it started to rain and the temperature felt a cool 5.5 Celsius.
Beaufort Wind Force: 0 – 3. In the main, no more than a Light breeze, although it did reach more of a Gentle Breeze at the highest point of the walk.
Group: Martyn. Nigel and Fran
The weather was rather forecast today was a little iffy, but thankfully we decided that it was worth risking. In fact, it was bright and sunny for most of the walk, with a fifteen-minute shower after lunch and a few spots of rain towards the end of the walk.
Arriving at the start, the lakes was hosting lots of ducks, quite a few swan, including one Black swan and large numbers of Black headed gulls.
Not exactly a walk to remember, although we did have to cross 18 stiles! Capesthorne Hall looked quite impressive as we looked across one of the lakes towards it.
Lunch was taken, sitting on the grass verge in Blackden Lane. This was a timely spot as it started to rain shortly after we had finished our refreshments.
Path /stile finding wasn’t always easy, but the walk description we had proved very helpful, considering changes to paths had been made, but not updated on the OS Map.
Birds seen or heard today: House sparrow, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Common blackbird, Carrion crow, Woodpigeon, Common chaffinch, Canada goose, Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted duck, Common coot, Moorhen, Black headed gull, Lesser black backed gull, Treecreeper, Blue tit, European robin, Black billed magpie, Great tit, Wood nuthatch and possibly a brief call of a Yelowhammer.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Morris Dance, Kelsall ,where Fran and Nigel enjoyed a pint or two Salopian Brewery’s Hop Twister and I had my usual tiple at the Morris Dance, Kelsall – a pot of tea. The second pints cost a little more than expected as Nigel had lost a pound somewhere between the bar and getting back to our table!