Appleton Reservoir and Grappenhall

Saturday 5 November 8.5 miles

Tracey, Jane, Donna, Hilary and Carol (all 5 of us!)

We had good weather, and the sun even came out, the rain of the previous days meant it was a bit muddy underfoot.

We started at the reservoir walking around it, we followed the path, there was a field with some donkeys in it, the looked well looked after. Then we walked passed the cemetery and some large, expensive houses.

We walked through woods even though we were in the town. The autumn colours were beautiful and the sun came out at times showing off the colours. We meandered through The Lumb Brook Valley, the Woodland Trust owns this woodland.

We joined the Bridgewater Canal and there were two benches so we sat and had some lunch. The ducks came by very quickly to see if there were any scraps to eat but they soon lost interest and went away. There was a man fishing and he managed to catch fish!

We passed under the London Road Bridge and just along the path there are some Victorian Houses across the road and they looked very well kept with some nice window details.

There were horses in the fields along from Red Lane.

The Hollies Concept Cafe in Lower Stretton was very busy but we did manage to find a table, and drink cups of tea and share some cake - Victoria sponge, carrot cake and Bakewell tart. We could not decide why it was called the 'Concept Cafe'?
Hi Ian I am glad to hear that someone is reading this blog!

Get Together

Friday 29 October 

Wedding Anniversary Meal

Donna and Martin's house. 20 years of marriage! Lots of lovely food as usual.  

Lots of chatting, e.g. the hen on the road to work.

Farndon and Churton

Saturday 1 October 6.5 miles
Jane, Hilary

Parked in Farndon at the picnic area by the River Dee.(Still in England). The weather was fine and bright, and I chose the walk as it hadn't been raining so I thought it would be fairly dry.

We passed a row of houses that had been burnt - waiting to be sorted - the fire had obviously spread from one cottage.

We walked down a track, a car passed us, and then we passed them again when the track got really muddy. Once we got further down the track there was no way through.

A walk along the River Dee - lots of little buildings, one couple were sitting on their deck, they had Liverpudlian accents, how great to leave the city and come to a shack by the river with views over the countryside.

We came to a large bend in the river it showed the path going across the field but as there were a lot of cows and a bull we decided to follow the edge of the river!


Cheshire Open Studios - we called in on a few artists, Anne-Marie Rickus, Jo Jenkins (in Chester) and Caroline Gregson (in Tarvin). Had a drink of elderflower juice at Jo Jenkins.

The Trent & Mersey Canal and the River Weaver

Saturday 3 September 2011 8 miles 
Donna, Jane, Tracey, Hilary

The forecast was for rain so we were expecting to get wet, we had our waterproofs with us. It was a bit cloudy but there was no rain until later.

We started at the Anderton Boat Lift on the Trent and Mersey Canal, A couple of boats had just come up the lift and were coming out onto the canal. 

We walked along the canal, as there are a couple of tunnels along this stretch that do not have a foot path we walked along the path above. We stopped when we came to a bench and had a snack (too early for lunch!)

We left the canal where there was a footpath across a field and joined the River Weaver at Acton Bridge. The rowing club was at the river side.

We had lunch sitting by the river.

There was lots of fruit growing alongside the river. We picked and ate some!

Had tea and cake in the cafe at the Anderton Boat Lift Centre at a window table.

Spike Island to Wigg island

Saturday 30 July 2011 7.5 miles
Hilary, Carol, Tracey and Jane.

This is an Industrial Walk.

We had lovely weather, there was a little breeze when we arrived but by the afternoon it was quite hot.

Started the walk at Spike Island and the Sankey Canal.

Crossed the Runcorn Bridge.

Walked along the Bridgewater Canal, and crossed the Manchester Ship Canal to Wigg Island.

Returned over the Runcorn Bridge, we saw the same guy on a bike as we had seen when we crossed the first time.

Had tea and cakes at Davenports Cafe at Acton Bridge.

Alderley Edge

Saturday 2 July 8.5 miles (+detour)

Tracey, Hilary Jane

Sunny day, blue sky, fluffy clouds, I thought it might be too warm.

Cute animals, foals, calves, butterflies, etc

We did a lot of the walk before lunch, we got to Hare Hill there was a sign saying 'picnic area' so we were hoping for benches, but there were none. Just bird poo! So we sat on the grass further away from the pool.

As we left the Edge went wrong somewhere, we only realised this as we came to a road, as we walked along it we came to Swiss Hill and as we should have been at the top of it we went up it to see where we had gone wrong! But it was not obvious when got there so we went a little further up.

There are some big houses along this route.

Tea and cake at a cafe in Alderley Edge high street.

Hilary's walk

Saturday 4 June
Walk didn't take place