Saturday 24 August
Birthday Get Together for Hilary
The Hayhurst Arms in the small dining room.
Sunday, 8 September 2019
Gawsworth Hall
Friday 26 July
Birthday Get Together
Fleetwood Bac in the Garden Theatre. Good music, good singing, good band.
We had a picnic on the lawn.
Sunday, 7 July 2019
Adlington, Adlington Basin and Styperson Pool
Saturday 6 July 6.5 miles
Jane, Tracey and Donna
Rain!!!
We parked in the lay-by on the A523 near the Legh Arms, then went to the crossroads and up Brookledge Lane to Wych Lane into Wych Wood.
There were lots of stiles and fields to cross and as it had been raining the grass was we, so we got a bit wet too.
We crossed Middlewood Way and then joined the towpath walking along the Macclesfield Canal. We found the path that left the canal and crossed fields and roads and the canal going through a caravan site. Just before Woodend Farm we turned left to follow a track to Adlington Basin. We decided to stop here and have our lunch. We walked along a track to Lockgate Farm and on on to Shrigley Lane. At the little triangle with Brookledge Lane we continued on until we found the footpath sign for Styperson Pool.
We were lucky enough to see some butterflies as the day got a bit brighter. We went round the pool onto Sugar Lane. From here we quite quickly turned along a path going over the canal and then a bridge under Middlewood Way. We then had to be a bit careful to follow the instructions to Wych Farm and then back to where the car was parked.
The most important question was where to have tea and cake? As we were north of Macclesfield we decided on Arighi Bianchi.
Jane, Tracey and Donna
Rain!!!
We parked in the lay-by on the A523 near the Legh Arms, then went to the crossroads and up Brookledge Lane to Wych Lane into Wych Wood.
There were lots of stiles and fields to cross and as it had been raining the grass was we, so we got a bit wet too.
We crossed Middlewood Way and then joined the towpath walking along the Macclesfield Canal. We found the path that left the canal and crossed fields and roads and the canal going through a caravan site. Just before Woodend Farm we turned left to follow a track to Adlington Basin. We decided to stop here and have our lunch. We walked along a track to Lockgate Farm and on on to Shrigley Lane. At the little triangle with Brookledge Lane we continued on until we found the footpath sign for Styperson Pool.
We were lucky enough to see some butterflies as the day got a bit brighter. We went round the pool onto Sugar Lane. From here we quite quickly turned along a path going over the canal and then a bridge under Middlewood Way. We then had to be a bit careful to follow the instructions to Wych Farm and then back to where the car was parked.
The most important question was where to have tea and cake? As we were north of Macclesfield we decided on Arighi Bianchi.
Friday, 28 June 2019
The Old Parsonage
Saturday 8 June
Jane and Hilary
Not a walk then??? No, a garden visit instead!
The Old Parsonage is in a secluded part of the Arley estate that was open on 8 and 9 June under the National Garden Scheme. We parked in the field close to the house, on a field with a number of cars. On leaving of the field by the gate we came in we turned left onto Back Lane, we passed the impressive Chaplain's Cottages and School on the right hand side with their impressive chimneys. To get to the garden we walked down past a tree and in the side entrance which was an arched entrance in the hedge.
The Old Parsonage is a pretty house owned by The Hon. Rowland and Mrs, Flower, it did belong to the Viscount and Viscountess Ashbrook, but they have moved elsewhere on the estate leaving the younger members of the family to appreciate the house.
The two acres of garden were pleasant to walk around. The garden is not impressive but very pleasant to sit in and stroll around in.
You could sit in the garden having your tea and cake, we sat on the chairs on a small patio area facing the lawned area of the house. on some very nice metal chairs that had a bit of give in them so were very comfortable. We had a cup of tea with chocolate cake and a scone, made by a lady in Nantwich.
We went for a walk on leaving the garden, going down along Back Lane to the lake that had a couple of swans on it and across the bridge with Arley Brook going under it. Then we continued on past a small house to look at the sheep in the field. We continued our walk on to Sack Lane so following Arley Brook, Hilary was hoping to find a short circular walk but I couldn't find one on my phone. We walked to the end of Sack Lane, and back to the car - probably only about 1.5 miles.
Jane and Hilary
Not a walk then??? No, a garden visit instead!
The Old Parsonage is in a secluded part of the Arley estate that was open on 8 and 9 June under the National Garden Scheme. We parked in the field close to the house, on a field with a number of cars. On leaving of the field by the gate we came in we turned left onto Back Lane, we passed the impressive Chaplain's Cottages and School on the right hand side with their impressive chimneys. To get to the garden we walked down past a tree and in the side entrance which was an arched entrance in the hedge.
The Old Parsonage is a pretty house owned by The Hon. Rowland and Mrs, Flower, it did belong to the Viscount and Viscountess Ashbrook, but they have moved elsewhere on the estate leaving the younger members of the family to appreciate the house.
The two acres of garden were pleasant to walk around. The garden is not impressive but very pleasant to sit in and stroll around in.
You could sit in the garden having your tea and cake, we sat on the chairs on a small patio area facing the lawned area of the house. on some very nice metal chairs that had a bit of give in them so were very comfortable. We had a cup of tea with chocolate cake and a scone, made by a lady in Nantwich.
We went for a walk on leaving the garden, going down along Back Lane to the lake that had a couple of swans on it and across the bridge with Arley Brook going under it. Then we continued on past a small house to look at the sheep in the field. We continued our walk on to Sack Lane so following Arley Brook, Hilary was hoping to find a short circular walk but I couldn't find one on my phone. We walked to the end of Sack Lane, and back to the car - probably only about 1.5 miles.
Saturday, 11 May 2019
Mobberley and Great Warford
Saturday 11 May 5.5 miles
Hilary, Tracey and Jane
The day started out quite sunny with some warmth to the sunshine.
We found our way to Faulkner’s Lane, Mobberley and parked on the road behind another car. Then it was time for boots on and decisions about how many layers to wear, as it was warm in the sunshine we put on jackets without fleeces. We found the lane leading to Coppock House (Coppock House is for sale for £2,500.000), we followed the lane over Mobberley Brook and past the farmhouse and the barns that have been converted into houses, went through the metal gate and followed the obvious path across the field. After crossing the stile we read the instructions again, but with no map we could not be sure we had gone the right way. Fortunately Jane had a map of the area in her rucksack, we were supposed to have gone around the farm buildings and back to Faulkner’s Lane and the Frozen Mop and walked up the road, we decided to continue across the fields instead, so we could arrive at Pedley House Lane without walking on the road.
From the map we could see that we didn't need to walk to the farmhouse we could go straight across the fields opposite, the path led us to Ancoats Lane. We went past a entrance which gave the names on a board like Highgrove and Sandringham - the whole place is 'Highgrove' and has been turned into flats. The lodge cottage looked very nice, with an archway leading to a gate. Further along Ancoats we admired another house called 'White Stables', a very pretty symmetrical house, and when we went around the corner we could see the swimming pool!
We left Warford Lane to join a path through fields with horses. we managed to get to the track to turn left, then found the gate that took us along a field edges, we came out near some houses. The first house looked very interesting, it looked like it could have been a barn - and Hilary said she wouldn't mind living there! It is called Noah's Ark Barn and sold for £840,000 in 2017. The house next door is Noahwood house and has a black and white exterior. There were a couple of small dogs that barked a hearty welcome as we passed by. On Noah's Ark Lane we crossed Mobberley Brook again, followed the road to the corner and then crossed the fields.
There were some young cows in this field so they were curious about us, and followed us to the stile. The field had been newly fenced and as we crossed the field we could see the stile clearly. The instructions said the stile was hard to see, and after we crossed the new stile we found on old stile in the hedge which would have been hard to find. We crossed another field we decided it was probably time to find somewhere to eat. We had our lunch sitting on a concrete drain in the middle of the field! we crossed the Knutsford Road, and followed a drive to a farm. There was a strange set of shrubs in the middle of a field to the right which seemed a little odd. We continued through the farmyard and on across the fields to Paddockhill Lane, and followed the lane until we got to Moss lane Where we had to look out for a stile.
Over the stile we were into fields that had been split up, some parts with a metal fence. We followed the path signs across each of the fields but ended up in a field with no exit even though we were by the road. We looked at the map, read the instructions again and realised we should have gone along the edge of one of the fields. We were about to walk back on ourselves but the rain suddenly came down very heavily so tried to shelter under the hedge trees but we still got a bit wet.The path was well marked across the fields so lots of people must have come this way and on my old map it showed the map going to the road. We found our way across the fields and onto the path that brought us back to the Knutsford Road.
It seemed a bit strange that we had to look out for a brick archway but in walking along the verge a little there it was at the end of the barn. We followed the path then went across the field back to Faulkner's Lane and so back to the car.
We had tea and cake at Donna's house, homemade Bakewell tart with WI jam to be precise! Yum, yum, yum!
Hilary, Tracey and Jane
The day started out quite sunny with some warmth to the sunshine.
We found our way to Faulkner’s Lane, Mobberley and parked on the road behind another car. Then it was time for boots on and decisions about how many layers to wear, as it was warm in the sunshine we put on jackets without fleeces. We found the lane leading to Coppock House (Coppock House is for sale for £2,500.000), we followed the lane over Mobberley Brook and past the farmhouse and the barns that have been converted into houses, went through the metal gate and followed the obvious path across the field. After crossing the stile we read the instructions again, but with no map we could not be sure we had gone the right way. Fortunately Jane had a map of the area in her rucksack, we were supposed to have gone around the farm buildings and back to Faulkner’s Lane and the Frozen Mop and walked up the road, we decided to continue across the fields instead, so we could arrive at Pedley House Lane without walking on the road.
From the map we could see that we didn't need to walk to the farmhouse we could go straight across the fields opposite, the path led us to Ancoats Lane. We went past a entrance which gave the names on a board like Highgrove and Sandringham - the whole place is 'Highgrove' and has been turned into flats. The lodge cottage looked very nice, with an archway leading to a gate. Further along Ancoats we admired another house called 'White Stables', a very pretty symmetrical house, and when we went around the corner we could see the swimming pool!
We left Warford Lane to join a path through fields with horses. we managed to get to the track to turn left, then found the gate that took us along a field edges, we came out near some houses. The first house looked very interesting, it looked like it could have been a barn - and Hilary said she wouldn't mind living there! It is called Noah's Ark Barn and sold for £840,000 in 2017. The house next door is Noahwood house and has a black and white exterior. There were a couple of small dogs that barked a hearty welcome as we passed by. On Noah's Ark Lane we crossed Mobberley Brook again, followed the road to the corner and then crossed the fields.
There were some young cows in this field so they were curious about us, and followed us to the stile. The field had been newly fenced and as we crossed the field we could see the stile clearly. The instructions said the stile was hard to see, and after we crossed the new stile we found on old stile in the hedge which would have been hard to find. We crossed another field we decided it was probably time to find somewhere to eat. We had our lunch sitting on a concrete drain in the middle of the field! we crossed the Knutsford Road, and followed a drive to a farm. There was a strange set of shrubs in the middle of a field to the right which seemed a little odd. We continued through the farmyard and on across the fields to Paddockhill Lane, and followed the lane until we got to Moss lane Where we had to look out for a stile.
Over the stile we were into fields that had been split up, some parts with a metal fence. We followed the path signs across each of the fields but ended up in a field with no exit even though we were by the road. We looked at the map, read the instructions again and realised we should have gone along the edge of one of the fields. We were about to walk back on ourselves but the rain suddenly came down very heavily so tried to shelter under the hedge trees but we still got a bit wet.The path was well marked across the fields so lots of people must have come this way and on my old map it showed the map going to the road. We found our way across the fields and onto the path that brought us back to the Knutsford Road.
It seemed a bit strange that we had to look out for a brick archway but in walking along the verge a little there it was at the end of the barn. We followed the path then went across the field back to Faulkner's Lane and so back to the car.
We had tea and cake at Donna's house, homemade Bakewell tart with WI jam to be precise! Yum, yum, yum!
Saturday, 13 April 2019
Lower Withington
Saturday 13 April 6 miles
Tracey, Jane and Carol
What do you wear on a day in April that has been cold overnight and yet the sun is shining? It is difficult to decide. You don't want to have too many layers, but you certainly don't want to be cold. We decided on layers so that we could take a layer off if necessary. We didn't take a layer off, the sun did shine but the wind was cold.
The B5392 at Lower Withington is a busy road so we parked in a lay-by on the main after having a look to see if we could park anywhere around the triangle to park off the road, but there was nowhere obvious to park. We walked along the road a little, crossed the road when we saw the footpath sign. The path led us behind the houses, then opened out to fields that had been split up into smaller areas which fenced off the horses. We had to walk across one field with horses in it but they didn't pay us too much attention. We crossed another field and joined a lane. A couple of cyclists passed us, we continued along the lane which became a track going passed a farm and onto Catchpenny Lane.
It was such a pretty day, some of the trees were beginning to bud, whist some were still bare so they looked amazing against the bright blue sky. There were plenty more cyclists out and about. Tracey had told us to look out for a stile in the hedge but we were too busy talking so it wasn't until the road we were on was passing a lake that Tracey realised we had gone too far. We returned along the road and found the stile in the hedge, and followed the path alongside a wood. A stream was flowing beside the path and when we got to the bottom it was flowing over the footpath, we looked at the possibility of walking around into the field but it all looked too wet, plus there was barbed wire fencing. We managed to cross the stream of water by standing on the clumps of grass and jumping across as fast as possible.
Our boots were a bit wet, we continued on up the path and onto the track around the field, then joining the road and looking out for a stile - much more closely this time, but this stile was quite obvious. The footpath followed a couple of field edges and we came to a wooden bridge which crossed the sand quarry conveyor, it was all very quiet as it was the weekend. The walk continued around a wood, across an open area where we met a women with a couple of large dogs, she kept tight hold of them whilst we passed by, and then we went around another wood. There was an open track that we followed along the edge of the quarry, then we kept on the track which went beside a hedge towards the houses. The path led past the house with a very nice garden.
As we continued we became aware of a buzzard being chased by some birds, possibly crows. We watched the buzzard flying over the woods and our heads, then it came back to hover over the sand quarry. We continued on our way, it was very pretty along this path as the white blossom was out on the trees and the white stems of the birch trees shone in the sunlight.
We realised we had somehow gone the wrong way when the path followed a busy road. Carol checked on her phone to see where we were, and we were no where near the footpath we should have been on. We decided it was best to stop for lunch as it was about 12 o'clock. We were sheltered on one side by the trees and on the other side by a bank on the edge of the quarry. We could have retraced our steps but decided that was better to join the nearby road and find a different route back to the car. There were a couple of locked five bar gates that we negotiated and then we were able to walk along a wide grass verge of the A535 Holmes Chapel Road. We continued past the gate to Withington Hall and its sweeping drive to another gate with a track to a house, it was a public footpath that lead around the house, then went beside the wood and led to the end of Withington pool where we got a good view of the Hall in its picturesque setting. Having said that we were soon back to the quarry again, it made wonder how noisy the conveyor is when it is moving?
From the end of the lake we passed through a short field where there was new fencing and a new bridge that had been built over the conveyor, fortunately for us as this was our cut through from the main road. From here we could see the big machines that dig the sand out of the quarry all parked up. We continued past Dairy House Farm and then back to familiar territory. As we came down the hill we met the water coming over the path again. It was not as easy to cross the water this time, perhaps more people had walked that way and squashed the grass we had balanced on previously. We ended up having to go through the water, Tracey managed to slip and ended up with her boots in the water but the water didn't go over the top of her boots.
From here we were not too far from the car, we followed the track and then the fields behind the houses where there was now a horse that was much more lively and interested in us. There was a fence between us fortunately as it was a bit too lively, and some of the other horses were paying us more attention. We walked quickly through this field and back to the car.
We visited Goostrey Home and Leisure where we had tea and cake, with each of us choosing a different cake - lemon and coconut, raspberry and coconut and Victoria Sponge. We then had a wander about.
Tracey, Jane and Carol
What do you wear on a day in April that has been cold overnight and yet the sun is shining? It is difficult to decide. You don't want to have too many layers, but you certainly don't want to be cold. We decided on layers so that we could take a layer off if necessary. We didn't take a layer off, the sun did shine but the wind was cold.
The B5392 at Lower Withington is a busy road so we parked in a lay-by on the main after having a look to see if we could park anywhere around the triangle to park off the road, but there was nowhere obvious to park. We walked along the road a little, crossed the road when we saw the footpath sign. The path led us behind the houses, then opened out to fields that had been split up into smaller areas which fenced off the horses. We had to walk across one field with horses in it but they didn't pay us too much attention. We crossed another field and joined a lane. A couple of cyclists passed us, we continued along the lane which became a track going passed a farm and onto Catchpenny Lane.
It was such a pretty day, some of the trees were beginning to bud, whist some were still bare so they looked amazing against the bright blue sky. There were plenty more cyclists out and about. Tracey had told us to look out for a stile in the hedge but we were too busy talking so it wasn't until the road we were on was passing a lake that Tracey realised we had gone too far. We returned along the road and found the stile in the hedge, and followed the path alongside a wood. A stream was flowing beside the path and when we got to the bottom it was flowing over the footpath, we looked at the possibility of walking around into the field but it all looked too wet, plus there was barbed wire fencing. We managed to cross the stream of water by standing on the clumps of grass and jumping across as fast as possible.
Our boots were a bit wet, we continued on up the path and onto the track around the field, then joining the road and looking out for a stile - much more closely this time, but this stile was quite obvious. The footpath followed a couple of field edges and we came to a wooden bridge which crossed the sand quarry conveyor, it was all very quiet as it was the weekend. The walk continued around a wood, across an open area where we met a women with a couple of large dogs, she kept tight hold of them whilst we passed by, and then we went around another wood. There was an open track that we followed along the edge of the quarry, then we kept on the track which went beside a hedge towards the houses. The path led past the house with a very nice garden.
As we continued we became aware of a buzzard being chased by some birds, possibly crows. We watched the buzzard flying over the woods and our heads, then it came back to hover over the sand quarry. We continued on our way, it was very pretty along this path as the white blossom was out on the trees and the white stems of the birch trees shone in the sunlight.
We realised we had somehow gone the wrong way when the path followed a busy road. Carol checked on her phone to see where we were, and we were no where near the footpath we should have been on. We decided it was best to stop for lunch as it was about 12 o'clock. We were sheltered on one side by the trees and on the other side by a bank on the edge of the quarry. We could have retraced our steps but decided that was better to join the nearby road and find a different route back to the car. There were a couple of locked five bar gates that we negotiated and then we were able to walk along a wide grass verge of the A535 Holmes Chapel Road. We continued past the gate to Withington Hall and its sweeping drive to another gate with a track to a house, it was a public footpath that lead around the house, then went beside the wood and led to the end of Withington pool where we got a good view of the Hall in its picturesque setting. Having said that we were soon back to the quarry again, it made wonder how noisy the conveyor is when it is moving?
From the end of the lake we passed through a short field where there was new fencing and a new bridge that had been built over the conveyor, fortunately for us as this was our cut through from the main road. From here we could see the big machines that dig the sand out of the quarry all parked up. We continued past Dairy House Farm and then back to familiar territory. As we came down the hill we met the water coming over the path again. It was not as easy to cross the water this time, perhaps more people had walked that way and squashed the grass we had balanced on previously. We ended up having to go through the water, Tracey managed to slip and ended up with her boots in the water but the water didn't go over the top of her boots.
From here we were not too far from the car, we followed the track and then the fields behind the houses where there was now a horse that was much more lively and interested in us. There was a fence between us fortunately as it was a bit too lively, and some of the other horses were paying us more attention. We walked quickly through this field and back to the car.
We visited Goostrey Home and Leisure where we had tea and cake, with each of us choosing a different cake - lemon and coconut, raspberry and coconut and Victoria Sponge. We then had a wander about.
Sunday, 17 March 2019
Nantwich - Going off-piste
Saturday 16 March
Donna, Tracey, Jane, Hilary
Nantwich was Donna's choice for brunch.
Donna parked the car at the car park off Middlewich Road at Barony Park. So we had a little walk into the town. It was trying to rain so we needed our hoods. We went to the Nantwich Traditional Market, had a browse of the stalls. Baked cakes, busy cafe, jewellery, and lovely plants outside.
Then we went to the Residence Restaurant for brunch.
Donna, Tracey, Jane, Hilary
Nantwich was Donna's choice for brunch.
Donna parked the car at the car park off Middlewich Road at Barony Park. So we had a little walk into the town. It was trying to rain so we needed our hoods. We went to the Nantwich Traditional Market, had a browse of the stalls. Baked cakes, busy cafe, jewellery, and lovely plants outside.
Then we went to the Residence Restaurant for brunch.
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