OUR WALKS 2022
This sculpture of a wild boar is by the artist
Stephen Charnock and can be found on the Sandstone Trail in Nettleford Wood,
part of Delamere Forest.
28th June. Today we had an "emergency" walk led by Fiona as Janet, who had been due to take us around Hatchmere, has Covid. So five of us set off from KCC under dark clouds and walked up Chester Road, crossing at the top heading towards Gresty's Waste. Before we got there, we dived into the hedge to find a well hidden stile, which led us up through the woods towards the Sandstone Trail. We scrambled up into the trees above the Trail and headed for the Stones on Old Pale where we stopped for a welcome drink. Heading down towards Eddisbury, we looped round the masts, at last going downhill! We ended up crossing the Sandstone Trail again, heading through the woods to Forest Gate, from where we walked to Yeld Lane and home. We had done 5 miles with no rain after all but lots of chat and exercise.
Words and photo: Fiona
Words and photo: Fiona
7th June. It was an amazing 3 mile circular walk starting from Beeston Castle. There were just six of us but all very determined to negotiate the steep bit successfully, which we did. Everything turned out beautifully including the weather, with the exception of the cows, who were found grazing in the wrong field; that was sorted by walking through the next one which also led to the path around Peckforton, phew!!
An ice-cream and a chat "al fresco" at the Castle cafe were enjoyed at the end of the walk.
Words: Beatriz. Photos: Cathy and Lesley
31st May. Our walk today began with seven walkers and we were prepared for mixed weather conditions. Sunshine and showers were forecast. We drove to Bickerton Church and began following the Sandstone Trail, leading upwards onto the heath. This is the 2nd largest heath in Cheshire. The National Trust are managing the restoration of the heath, allowing long horned cattle to graze freely. Rain showers forced us onwards. Eventually we climbed up to Maiden Castle Iron Age earth and timber rampart. We enjoyed views across to the cathedrals of Liverpool, the Clwydian Hills and even the Shropshire Hills. Soon the sun reappeared and we enjoyed our snacks and drinks at Kitty's View after reading the poetry dedicated to the enthusiastic walker. We enjoyed a brisk walk to our cars and more sunshine.
Words: Dorothy Photos: Lesley and Fiona
24th May. Five intrepid ladies set off towards the dark side....well, the Wirral really, for a walk to Heswall Dales. Despite the rain on leaving Kelsall it was sunny if a little breezy when we arrived and stayed bright and sunny throughout the walk. We walked down country lanes until we came to Heswall Fields and crossed the field to sit on a bench overlooking the beach and the River Dee with great views towards North Wales. We carried on until we came to the Wirral Way, crossing over the track then heading up towards Dungeon Woods. Dungeon is Olde English for wooded dell apparently. We went down through the woods, across a little stream and then climbed up some very steep steps and past a little waterfall; we were then at one of the highest points on the Wirral. Walking past houses with lovely views across the river, we descended again towards Heswall Dales, ending up back in Banks Road car park opposite a very conveniently positioned cafe where we enjoyed a light lunch sitting out in the sunshine.
Words: Lesley. Photos: Fiona
Words: Lesley. Photos: Fiona
17th May. As only four of us met up for today's walk, Dorothy, a pair of Jeans and me, we decided not to do the Dunham Park/Bridgewater Canal walk but to do a local walk instead. We started to walk from KCC car park, past the allotments, up 39 steps, on to King's Gate and into the Forest. We stopped at Urchin's Kitchen at the Equestrian Centre for coffee, cake and chat before retracing our steps. It was a pleasant, relaxing, uneventful walk which pleased Jean as driving to KCC she had nearly been run off the road by a huge van, nearly hit by a low flying pheasant, and had to stop to help wrangle a stray sheep into a field!
Words: Avril. Photos: Jean.
Words: Avril. Photos: Jean.
3rd May. Today our walk was led by Anne and ten of us set off to meet Jean at our designated parking spot just on the edge of Waverton. Much to Anne's surprise, our designated parking spot was blocked off by a load of bollards and an army of workmen, without any warning having been visible on the recce just 3 days beforehand. Keeping a few impatient drivers at bay, the three drivers undertook a three-point-turn in the lane (some more elegantly than others!) and finally met up to start our walk. While changing our footwear we chatted with a large group of cyclists who were about to set off to Llangollen and the Horseshoe Pass. We were about to do a four-and-a-half mile walk, and I think that we had the easier morning ahead of us.
After a straight five hundred metres along a roadside pavement, we turned off onto a footpath which led us around a couple of fields, to emerge onto a narrow towpath alongside the Shropshire Union Canal. This eventually led us into Christleton, unfortunately we did not have time to call into the new cafe there, but instead we stopped for our refreshment break at a lovely circular wooden bench around a tree, opposite St. James's Church.
Continuing on through Christleton we passed the old College of Law, which has now closed, and the buildings and land are being redeveloped to provide new housing. A short way further on, we took some stops down onto the canal towpath and began walking back towards Waverton, along the opposite side of the canal from before. From here, we passed several houses with lovely gardens sweeping right down to the edge of the water and later, we passed some canalside properties with balconies and moorings directly on the water. Shortly after, we took some steps up from the towpath, emerging opposite Waverton Primary School from where we walked back to our cars.
This had been a very easy flat walk, no muddy paths, no rain to deter us and only one field of (very docile) cows! An enjoyable morning was had by us all.
Words: Anne Photos Anne and Fiona
After a straight five hundred metres along a roadside pavement, we turned off onto a footpath which led us around a couple of fields, to emerge onto a narrow towpath alongside the Shropshire Union Canal. This eventually led us into Christleton, unfortunately we did not have time to call into the new cafe there, but instead we stopped for our refreshment break at a lovely circular wooden bench around a tree, opposite St. James's Church.
Continuing on through Christleton we passed the old College of Law, which has now closed, and the buildings and land are being redeveloped to provide new housing. A short way further on, we took some stops down onto the canal towpath and began walking back towards Waverton, along the opposite side of the canal from before. From here, we passed several houses with lovely gardens sweeping right down to the edge of the water and later, we passed some canalside properties with balconies and moorings directly on the water. Shortly after, we took some steps up from the towpath, emerging opposite Waverton Primary School from where we walked back to our cars.
This had been a very easy flat walk, no muddy paths, no rain to deter us and only one field of (very docile) cows! An enjoyable morning was had by us all.
Words: Anne Photos Anne and Fiona
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26th April. Today six of us met up in the car park on Yeld Lane and set off down Forest Gate Lane towards the trees. We turned off the main track and passed over a couple of little bridges by a deep pond, wending our way through the woods to cross the Sandstone Trail and take the Roman Road up to Stoney Lane. We walked along the Lane, passing an unusual dog waste bin (see photos!), turning off at the bottom of the mound where there is an information board about Eddisbury Hill Fort, an Iron Age settlement on top of the hill. The hill was quite steep but the views from the top were excellent and we were glad of the stone walls as we sat down for our drinks. The young cattle in the field were also keen to check out our refreshments as you can see from the photos below! We also met a walker at the top who had brought his drone with him for a different view of the area; the cattle decided it was time to leave and so did we, walking along the ridge amidst masses of gorse in full flower. Due to the recent dry weather, our steep descent was much less exciting than the last time we did this walk and we carried on past the farm and onto the track leading us towards the Stones. We had another brief stop at the Stones before setting off downhill for Forest Gate Lane and the car park. We enjoyed our 4+ mile walk, meeting several husky dogs, finding flowering trees we couldn't identify and being buzzed by the cattle.
Words: Fiona Photos: Jean and Fiona
19th April. Four of us met up with Jean at the Coach Road car park in Little Budworth for her walk in Little Budworth Country Park. It was a beautiful morning as we followed the paths through the tranquil woodland and across heathy glades. The birdsong was spectacular, the bluebells were in flower and on Little Budworth Pool we spotted march marigolds and two nesting swans. The final part of our walk took us through Little Budworth village where we stopped and admired several of the lovely cottage gardens.
Words Avril, Photos Jean
Words Avril, Photos Jean
5th April. Delia led six of us down Tarporley High Street before taking a footpath behind the Fire Station, through some new housing and across the bypass. We headed southwest towards Beeston, enjoying fine view of the castle despite the grey day. After a tea stop at Wharton Lock we walked along a short stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal towards the Shady Oak. The pub is only open Friday to Sunday at present so it wasn't possible to replicate Delia's beer stop from the recce! We then looped back to Tarporley, rejoining part of the Sandstone Trail. Fortunately a couple of "bull in field" signs were false alarms. We had to negotiate some rather muddy paths but the wild wood anemones helped to cheer us up and luckily the rain held off. We finished the walk through a couple of meadows and headed back into Tarporley, passing the Daffodil Field housing development.
Words:Delia Photos:Fiona
Words:Delia Photos:Fiona
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29th March.
Seven of us set out on a beautiful morning to walk in the area around Whitegate. It was a scenic walk on lanes, fields and finally finishing on the Whitegate Way. We enjoyed the flowers and particularly the host of golden daffodils. Words:Myra Photo:Lesley |
22nd March. "Where is the Gruffalo?"
On a beautiful spring morning six walkers set off from the Yeld Car Park heading down the road before entering Delamere Forest. We followed a trail over the railway bridge and eventually began a circuit of Blakemere Moss. A bench was found overlooking the water, and we had our drinks and snacks in the sunshine. We walked around the Moss, constantly meeting the same two cyclists as they cycled the forest looking for a way out! As we began our return route we passed models of the characters from the Gruffalo books. The models were so appealing photos were taken with each of them - owl, fox, mouse and squirrel. But where was the Gruffalo? A sign explained that he was on holiday in another forest but would be back soon. Just like the WI walkers!
Words: Dorothy Photos: Pat, Avril, Anne T
On a beautiful spring morning six walkers set off from the Yeld Car Park heading down the road before entering Delamere Forest. We followed a trail over the railway bridge and eventually began a circuit of Blakemere Moss. A bench was found overlooking the water, and we had our drinks and snacks in the sunshine. We walked around the Moss, constantly meeting the same two cyclists as they cycled the forest looking for a way out! As we began our return route we passed models of the characters from the Gruffalo books. The models were so appealing photos were taken with each of them - owl, fox, mouse and squirrel. But where was the Gruffalo? A sign explained that he was on holiday in another forest but would be back soon. Just like the WI walkers!
Words: Dorothy Photos: Pat, Avril, Anne T
15th March. Today Heather led 8 walkers to Middlewich's free car park, from where we set off along the Trent and Mersey Canal. The sun shone as we walked through the old Wharf area to Middlewich Marina and on towards the locks, with all the canal boats lined up along both sides. We turned right along the Wardle Canal which is the shortest in the UK; it links the Trent and Mersey canal with the Shropshire Union canal. There is much history associated with the canals and there are interesting information boards along the way, telling the story of Middlewich's importance in the 19th and early 20th centuries; it's biggest export was cheese! We carried on, turning off the canal path to walk through Croxton Park, having had a break on a bridge over the river for some welcome refreshments. We remarked that it was very quiet today with just the occasional dog walker about, but we did meet a rather snooty Llama and some swans. Once through the park we turned back onto the Trent and Mersey canal, passing a sign to the Roman Fort (the Romans were active in the salt mining industry here before leaving the area early in the 2nd century AD), then we passed the Big Lock pub where customers sat in the sun with coffees and dogs. We popped back up into the middle of town by the Library and made our way back to the car park. In the photos below you can see an artist's impression of a settlement along King Street after the Romans had left; it looks a little like all the new housing we saw on our walk!
Words:Fiona Photos:Beatriz & Fiona
Words:Fiona Photos:Beatriz & Fiona
8th March.
Twelve of us met up in the sunshine this morning for a 3 mile walk up to Primrose Wood led by Pam. The view from the top of the 39 steps made the climb (almost!) worth it, and we carried on up to Kings Gate, following the track to the edge of the wood where we passed through the gate and onto the path to the Kelsall Hill equestian centre. The centre was very busy with cars and horse boxes and there were riders exercising their horses in both the indoor and outdoor arenas. We had a good view of all the activity from Urchins Kitchen cafe where we had a welcome coffee and cake, and were interested to see that there are events on at the centre almost every day. We retraced our steps after a good chat and made our way back to Kelsall after a blustery but sunny walk.
Words and Photos: Fiona
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1st March 2022
There could not have been a greater contrast between last Tuesday's weather when our walk had to be cancelled due to the very wet and windy conditions and this Tuesday. Today it was sunny with a gentle breeze, a great day for a walk. We started our walk on the Trent and Mersey canal near the Leigh Arms. After all the recent heavy rain the tow path was very muddy but the lovely views more than made up for this. We were pleased when we could leave the muddy tow path behind, walk down past Bluebell Cottage Gardens and along a short stretch of the Delamere Way to join the River Weaver. We stopped at Dutton Lock for a drink and snack then walked back along the river to the Leigh Arms spotting a couple of cormorants on the way. It was a very enjoyable 5 mile walk.
Words Avril, Photos Jean
There could not have been a greater contrast between last Tuesday's weather when our walk had to be cancelled due to the very wet and windy conditions and this Tuesday. Today it was sunny with a gentle breeze, a great day for a walk. We started our walk on the Trent and Mersey canal near the Leigh Arms. After all the recent heavy rain the tow path was very muddy but the lovely views more than made up for this. We were pleased when we could leave the muddy tow path behind, walk down past Bluebell Cottage Gardens and along a short stretch of the Delamere Way to join the River Weaver. We stopped at Dutton Lock for a drink and snack then walked back along the river to the Leigh Arms spotting a couple of cormorants on the way. It was a very enjoyable 5 mile walk.
Words Avril, Photos Jean
15th February.
Today Janet led a group on a 4.5 mile walk around Hatchmere. Here are some photos from the walk. 8th February 2022 Today we had our first walk of the season. 14 of us joined in a Village Safari, walking some of the roads, lanes and footpaths of Kelsall, starting at our centenary tree on the Green. Various places of historical interest were pointed out en route. The walk concluded with a very welcome coffee and cake hosted by Mary Diggle. We are looking forward to a full programme of weekly walks for the year. Words: Myra Photo: Avril |
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