Weaver Valley and Vale Royal Abbey

Saturday 7 September 7 miles

Tracey, Hilary, Jane  

We woke to bright weather. The forecast was for rain and wind so the walk was changed from a Frodsham walk to a Hartford walk incase the weather was terrible. We were lucky that it turned out to be sunny at the beginning of the walk. We went across the by-pass and into the woods, we followed the road/path going under the railway viaduct .
The Weaver Navigation Vale Royal Railway Viaduct is a grade II listed building in Davenham, built in 1837 by Joseph Locke and George Stephenson for the Grand Junction Railway Co. It consists of a straight line of 5 equal segmental arches sprung from ashlar imposts on battered piers. the stonework in the spandrels is coursed with the voussoirs. Ashlar pilasters divide the arches and the whole has a modillion cornice. Vale Royal Abbey was once a medieval abbey built by the cicterions, it became a house but is now a golf club. 

We walked past the houses by the golf course and then through fields of corn, the plants were higher than our heads so the only view was of the sky with its clouds and the warmth of the sunshine.

We crossed more fields until we came to the road by the salt works. The Winsford Rock Salt Mine was opened in 1844 and is the oldest operating mine in the UK. The Mine produces over a million tonnes of Rock Salt a year and this is primarily used for highway de-icing.

At the River Weaver we crossed the river and found the picnic table where we had our lunch. We continued along the river.

The Vale Royal Locks are part of the River Weaver Navigation. The large size of the lock and speed of operation meant that a steam flat towing three 300-ton dumb-barges could pass through the lock in 15 minutes, making the Weaver an extremely efficient navigation. 

We walked alongside the river, we saw herons, a cormorant with its wings spread, and lots of fisherman until we got to the Hartford Bridge (the Blue Bridge) The bridge, built in 1938, carries the Northwich bypass (A556) over the River Weaver.  We continued across the bridge and alongside the by-pass with its fast cars.

We went to Blakemere Craft Centre for tea and cake and had a wander about.

Carol's Walk

Saturday 20 July

Get Together

Sunday 14 July

Day Trip
Narrowboat day trip from Middlewich Narrowboats.
What gorgeous weather!? How lucky were we?
We decided to go towards Northwich along the Trent and Mersey Canal, so the first thing was to turn the boat around, and then approach the locks.
There was a bit of a breeze which was good as the weather had been extremely warm. 
There are quite a few overgrown sections along this stretch of the canal.
Quite a few boats on the canal.  
Stopped for lunch at Wincham - what a spread - lots of lovely food.
On the way back there was a boat across the canal we thought someone was trying to turn around but then we realised that there was no one on board and it had come adrift from its mooring.
We saw dragonflies and kingfishers.  
We had to be back for 6pm so we made sure we had plenty of time to go back through the locks in Middlewich.

Plumley Station Walk

Sunday 22 June
Jane, Hilary, Carol and Tracey

WET WET WET!!!!!

The weather forecast was for rain I decided on a local walk so that we could get home easily if necessary. I was also lucky to find a walk that could be done as half a walk especially as we were likely to get very wet. It was like a figure of eight with the middle of the walk returning near to the station so we could pick up the car if very wet.

The forecast was right and it rained! We had our waterproof trousers so we put them on from the start. (Carol had forgotten her boots so Phil brought them).

We started the walk from the road in wet grass so some of us had wet feet. Does that mean new boots or better cleaning?

As we were walking in the rain it was difficult to know where to stop for lunch. We looked around the church in Plumley but there was no where to sit. So we sat on the bench near the shop on Plumley Moor Road and ate our lunch.

The rain  stopped so we continued with the second half of the walk.

We weren't sure where to stop for tea and cake, we passed the Plantation garden centre and realised that they advertised a cafe so we went in.

Llanddulas weekend

Saturday 18 May
Donna, Hilary, Jane, Carol + Donna's friends + the caravan

Tal-y-Fan (610 m - 2001 ft) very cloudy.

We travelled to Wales and arrived ready to do the walk. 
The went in the car to Rowen, and started the walk from there.

It was a steep climb in places. The cloud covered the top so we had no views which was a shame.

 In the evening we went to the Cliffs Bar & Restaurant, Tan Rallt Holiday Home Park, Rhyd-y-Foel for a meal. The meal was very nice.

Sunday 19 May
Donna recommended having breakfast at a cafe along the beach. We walked along the coast a little and all had a good traditional breakfast with a cup of tea.

On leaving Llanddulas we passed an Ice cream van, we joined the A55 but the idea of  having an ice cream was too great so Donna stopped at Pensarn. We sat on the sea wall eating our ice creams.

Disley

Saturday 13th April 
Hilary's Walk

Bridgemere

Saturday 16 March 6.5 miles

Tracey, Donna, Jane, Carol, Hilary

It was a bit rainy when we set off, but cleared to a sunny day that was quite warm in the sheltered parts.

We parked at  Bridgemere and started the walk by going off into the fields, it was very waterlogged in places especially when we were crossing stiles or gates.
Lunch sitting on concrete slabs.

Afternoon tea at Bridgemere, and a wander about the garden centre.