Middlewich Canal

Saturday 5 September 5 and 6 miles

Hilary and Jane

We started at Glastonbury Drive and went down Nantwich Road to the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. We followed the canal path to bridge 25.

On crossed the Bridge we went along a track and then across some fields onto the Nantwich Road. We crossed the road and made our way to School Lane, following the lane to the corner where then joined the path to Hopley House. We had a look around and returned along the path to School Lane crossing to the path that leads to Sutton Lane.

We stopped to have lunch by the bridge over the River Wheelock as there was a bit of grass by a gate that we could sit on. Then we continued up Sutton Lane where split up to go home.

 

 

 

River Dane and Congleton Park

Wednesday 12 August 5.5 miles

Tracey, Jane, Donna and Hilary

Very warm weather! The walk suggested it could be muddy in places but there was no chance because of the dry weather.

The walk started at the Wagon and Horses in Eaton. We went through the garden and out of the gate at the back. We crossed roads, walked fields, crossed small bridges, followed streams and through gates until we came to the Congleton bypass. We followed the track to the underpass until we came to another underpass coming to Moss Lane passing newer houses. 

Havannah Lane lead down to the River Dane and Congleton Hydro. From the bridge we could see the weir which is grade 11 listed. As there was no path across the bridge we were in the road so of course a delivery lorry came through just then, so we had to quickly move across the bridge, we went back again to look at the weir and the lorry returned to cross the bridge as we were once again in the middle!

We followed the Dane through some playing fields, along the road and passed industrial units reaching the park. We decided to have lunch in the park (before 12!!) sitting on a bench by the bowling green. Sitting on some benches in the shade was pleasant.

There were some colourful flowers in the formal gardens and quite a few people enjoying the warm weather in the park. We crossed the Pavilion bridge over the Dane an followed the riverside path to the main road, going up Rood Hill to the traffic lights, crossed over the road to go into the woods behind the houses. We had glimpses of Westlow Mere on the left hand side. 

We came to Giantswood Lane following the road, there were a group of men putting tiles on a roof on one of the houses. Then we took the bridge over the bypass and passed a house being built. Crossing fields and streams and the standing stones we passed Brick House Farm going on paths along the drive to reach the lane. 

We followed the lane for a while and came back to School Lane, and along the path to the pub.

We went to The Old Barn Cafe, Marton and had an icecream each - 2 peaches and cream, 1 honeycomb and 1 raspberry ripple.

 

Buxton

Wednesday 1 July to Friday 3 July

Jane, Tracey, Donna and Hilary 

Wednesday - Town Walk 

We followed Buxton Heritage walk, starting at the Crescent. 

Thursday - Chee Valley walk + Les Liaisons Dangereuses 

Friday - Buxton Well Dressing + Solomon's Temple 

As we had seen the Well Dressing at the Market Place we decided to have a look at the other wells.

 

Tiverton

Saturday 13 June 6 miles

Jane and Hilary 

The forecast earlier in the week was for sunny and warmer weather but it did not materialise. The day started cloudy and dull, seeming like it might rain. We put on a fleeces and jackets to start the walk. The sunny weather came later but the wind was still cool. We were taking layers off and putting them on again!

Parked in the car park behind The Rising Sun. 

Lots of the paths were overgrown particularly with brambles, some with nettles, so we had to push through them.

Birds - lapwings, swifts, a woodpecker and a wagtail.

There were quite a few fields growing corn, it was fairly easy to find our way through at the moment but once the plants are tall it might be difficult to see the path.

Highland cows in one field, one looked at us as we got nearer and then went back to munching. 

Passed a tent under a tree as we walked along the tow path towards the lock. I wondered if someone homeless was living there. We had our lunch sitting by the Beeston Cast Iron Lock on the Shropshire Union Canal. On our way back to the main road a young lad with a dog was packing up the tent and by the time we got back to the bridge he had packed up his rucksack and was on his way.

Walked through Tiverton 

On Birch Heath Road we met an older lady doing some gardening

A field with cows in it with them all sitting down so we skirted around the majority of them 

Ginger and Pickles for tea and carrot cake and a hot chocolate with all the trimmings.

Winterley Pool

Saturday 16 May 5.5 miles

Donna, Tracey and Hilary 

Ashton Hayes Circular

Wednesday 8 April 5 miles

Hilary, Donna, Tracey and Jane 

What glorious weather!!!

We parked on Peel Hall Lane as it is was quiet road. We walked towards the Golden Lion pub and onto Kelsall Road going past the village community shop. We went further along Kelsall road to catch a glimpse of the Grade II* listed, seventeenth-century Ashton Hall farmhouse.

Then we went back to Duck Lane and on to Shay Lane farm track, it was muddy in places. Vehicles had obviously been along the lane as there were ruts, but I am not sure how as some of the ruts were so deep. 

It was very nice going down the tree lined track, as it was quiet so we were able to listen to the birds singing. 

We came out onto Longley Lane in places we could see across the fields but it was too misty to see the Welsh hills.

We took the permissible path off the road and went into the field and followed the path around the edge of the field with the tall fir trees, we could see there were sheep and lambs in the next field. As we followed the hedge we found a sheep had escaped from the field. We found the stile in the hedge and followed the farm track. We met a farmer opening the gate to move some animals so we told him about the sheep that had escaped.

Having crossed a field we came out onto Brines Brow Lane then turned onto Old Lane, and took the fork onto Grange Lane. 

We sat on some stones for lunch, it was really part of someone’s drive, a woman with a dog came through the field, I think it was the owner of the driveway but she didn't seem to mind that we were there. 

A dustbin lorry came along the lane, I was glad we were sitting to one side as the lane wasn't very wide so there would not have been much space for the lorry and us walkers. We met a man with his son further down Grange lane and he commented on how fast vehicles went on such a narrow lane. 

As we walked along the lane could see some of the glamping tents through the trees. We went to the end of Grange Lane where there were noisy rooks in the trees.

We turned left towards Ashton Hays, and crossed the road to a path going across the fields and we came to Gongar Lane. Here we crossed over the road to the track leading to Peel Hall. The Hall is a Grade II* listed mansion house was built in 1637. 

There were horses in the fields next to the track. We followed the path around the back of the Hall and came out onto Peel Hall Lane walking along the road a short distance back to the car.

We went into Tarvin and found the cafe @Number 50 that Hilary wanted to visit and had tea and carrot cake, coffee cake and shortbread. 

Grappenhall and the Dingle

Wednesday 25 March 5.75 miles

Tracey, Jane, Donna and Hilary 

Parked at the London Bridge Inn, Stockton Heath

Weather - hailstones!!

The Bridgewater canal 

Grappenhall Woods 

Lunch sitting on a stone

The Dingle + Lumb Brook Valley

The Hollies Cafe tea + coffee + cake + pancakes and bacon