Dunham Park and the Bridgewater Canal

Saturday 14 January 2023 6 miles + Dunham Massey Garden

Hilary and Jane 

The forecast was for some wet weather, and as it had been raining all week I tried to choose a walk that might have proper paths under foot. It was raining as we left and as we arrived at the car park, we sat in the car for a few moments and then decided we had better get on with the walk.

We joined the Trans-Pennine Trail from the car park. The path was amongst trees in some places and at other times open to the cold wind coming across the fields. In one place there were lots of small birds swooping around. Against the pale grey grey sky it was hard to tell what they were.

We continued along the path to Station Road, then followed the road passed The Rope and Anchor pub - the name seemed a bit incongruous as we were in the middle of the countryside on the edge of Altrincham. At the bend we turned down Meadow Lane where there was a large empty house, it seemed a shame that no one was living in it. Ivy had once been growing inside the house as we could see the old brown ivy still on the inside of the window.

We walked to the bridge over the River Bollin, the river was running fast but had not come to the top of the banks, The fields were flooded and we were not sure we would be able to find the path, so decided we had better go back to the road. We went along the road to the entrance to Dunham Massey.

On entering the visitor building we decided to use their facilities and when we came out we sat on a bench in the corridor. It seemed like a good time to have our lunch so we ate it indoors! We then continued on our route throuh the park.

As we were passing the garden at Dunham Massey we dicided to have a little walk around. It was still very much a winter scene. We were lucky that there was some blue sky, the colours of the stems and trunks looked good in the spring light, particularly the white trunks of the birch. The snowdrops and the winter aconite were beginning to come through, and we saw the lovely yellow flower of the witch hazel.

We sat on the bench under the wooden pergola made from tree trunks, there were lots of birds flying about in the sunshine. We walked to the rose garden were we saw the bare structure of the place and looked at the kitchen garden.

Continuing our walk we weren't sure if we would see any deer but we were hoping to, a family of mum and two boys were looking for them as well and they had been told that there were some deer further on along the path. So we did see some from a distance in the end.

We climbed the steps to leave the parkland, and walked along the road following the wall, we crossed some fields and walked along School Lane to join the Bridgewater Canal. It was very muddy with lots of puddles to start with, and at the end it was solid surface so easy to walk on. We came back to Seamon's Road and to the car park.

Thinking about places to stop we remembered Plumley's Garden Centre where we had hot chocolate and tea.

 

 

Get together

Saturday 17 December 2022

Went to Hilary and Ian's house for aperitifs.

The Kinderton Christmas Meal and Disco.

Chris won some wine for our table!

Two Canals

Saturday 10 November 2022 5.5 miles

Jane, Donna + Hilary

We were so lucky with the weather as it had been so wet all week. I tried to choose a walk that I hoped would have less muddy paths - although that is difficult after the rain we have had all week. I joined two Lymm walks together so that the walk would be long enough.

We parked up just off Lymmhay Lane, Having put on our coats and boots we took the path across the golfcourse. There weren't any golfers around just one of the ground staff blowing leaves off one of the greens.

We crossed the road for the clubhouse and went along the Whitbarrow Road and found the gap between the houses and went down a path with the beech hedge above our heads and came to the fishing pools. We followed the path through the woods and came to a lane.

There was a very large puddle right across the whole lane, so we thought it was a good idea to take the right hand path instead of trying to get around the puddle, but the path came to a deadend and there wasn't a linking path to the one we wanted. We wondered if we could cross the fields, but there were fences everywhere plus we didn't know how wet the fields would be. So we returned to the puddle, one person going along the puddle edge holding the brambles to keep balance and the other two going down the middle of the track where the water was shallower!

We got to the path alongside the Manchester Ship Canal. As the path was a bit higher than the fields it was easy to walk along and it wasn't particularly muddy. We walked under the Thelwall Viaduct which carries the motorway over the Manchester Ship Canal. There was graffiti on the bridge legs on the opposite side of the canal but it was hard to read. We met a few dog walkers, one lady had such a strong smell of perfume it wafted over us.

As we reached the buildings of Thelwall we saw the sign for the Penny Ferry. So we went to have a look, there was a boat moored at the site and decided to have a ride on the boat. Normally the ferry just takes you across the ship canal but the man on board - Martin - took us down the canal towards theThelwall Viaduct so that we had a little trip!

We went down Bell Lane and crossed the main road, joining the Bridgewater Canal by going up some steps. We were hoping to find a bench on the canal so we ended up having our lLunch sitting in the sunshine by the path of the canal. As we were sitting down it was easy for dogs to come sniffing around, which a couple of dos did!

There was a cafe/shop called the Wild Deli sign by the canal so we decided to go and have a  look at it, but there were only a few seats outside and in the shade, so we contined our walk back up the road and onto the Trans-Pennine Trail.

The last part of the path along the Trans-Pennine Trail was closed off so we had to find a way around. The diversion pointed up the road but I thought we could go back through the golf course. When you are returning the way you came things look different, so the other said they didn't remember any of it. There were now golfers on the course so we had to be careful.

We went to High Legh Garden Centre for tea, coffee, hot chocolate. millionaire shortbread and flapjack. It was very busy and the cafe was very slow but there were seats.

Goostrey

Saturday 22 October

Carol, Hilary, Donna and Tracey

A lovely day. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warmingham and Sandbach Flashes

Saturday 24 September 6 miles

Hilary, Donna and Tracey

Walk - https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/things-to-do/walks/cheshire-walk-warmingham-sandbach-flashes-8514934

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately we saw three dead Canada geese in different places and reported it to Defra.

We went to Hopley House for a drink ( but no cake!)

Shropshire Union Canal from Barbridge

Saturday 27 August 2022 9 miles

Donna, Tracey, Jane and Hilary

A lovely day with the sun shining.

We parked at Barbridge, on the Old Chester Road.

We joined the Shropshire Union Main Line by going over the bridge and onto the towpath. It was a short walk to the turning onto the Middlewich Branch of the Shrophire Union Canal. It was very warm in the sunshine.

Along the canal we passed under the Winsford Road by the Venetian Marina and a train passed on the railway line as we walked towards it. We continued along the canal to the next bridge. As we walked along this stretch of canal a few spots of rain came down.

Up the steps and over two stiles we crossed the bridge leaving the canal behind and following the path south. We crossed over the railway line, when we came to the junction we crossed straight over then turned right when we came to Station Road. We were about to pass St Oswald's Church, Worleston, but noticed that there was a bench outside so we decided that was the best place to sit and have our lunch. It was after 12 o'clock!

We had a wander around the church as Hilary thought there might be an owl box there, but we couldn't see one, especially with all the leaves are still on the trees. As we were just about to leave a gentleman arrived in his car and asked if we wanted to see inside the church. It is beautiful inside with the pale stone setting off the darker wood in the roof. We had a chat by the door, there are not enough people who attend the services or volunteer to look after the church. That creates problems, the people in the village want a church, but don't help.

A short way along Church Lane we came to the end of the houses and found the path across the fields, There were some new wooden bridges crossing the stream. We got a bit lost around a pool where a man was fishing. It wasn't clear which way to go, but eventually we realised that we had gone too fat right on the path to the pond rather than bearing right towards the gate. Then we walked across the field to a gate and onto Poole Old Hall Lane. We continued until we turned left onto Wettenhall Lane. As we walked down the road I could see a stone bridge in the distance and hoped that was the canal bridge, it wasn't.

Part way down the lane we turned right onto Poole Hill Lane, there were some trees casting some shade, it was still warm and the shade under the trees gave some shelter and a bit of a breeze. We followed the lane until we came to the canal, the car park with boats in it looked as though we could get to the canal from there, but we couldn't get through the gate. So we walked around and went up the bank and onto the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal.

We follwed the Shropshire Union back to Barbridge and the car. It was a relief to take off our boots as out feet were hot. 

There was a debate as to where we should go for tea and cake but as some of the local places closed at 4pm we weren't going to have time to order. As we were passing Snugburys Ice Cream Farm we turned in there. We were lucky that the queue wasn't too long. We had 2 x Elderberry and Rhubarb, 1 Lemon Cheesecake, and 1 Lavender and honey. We managed to find a place in the shade and sat on the grass enjoying our icecreams.

Lymm and the Dam

Saturday 30 July 2022 5.5 miles

Jane + Tracey

It was again hard to know how many layers to put on, the weather was a bit warmer but sometimes the wind could be chilly. We parked in Burford Lane, even though both of us had brought our fleeces we decided to take a chance and leave them in the car. There was always a chance of rain so raincoats would be better.

It was interesting to walk along the back lanes, away from the traffic and yet you were in the town. Little pathways and quiet roads made for an interesting walk, having to work out which path to take in places.

We crossed the main road and had to find our way onto the path to go around Lymm Dam. I had thought we would be directly alongside the lake but we didn't all the way around. We went around the end of the dam on the path, but then I noticed that the walk suggested we walked to the Wishing Bridge, we were able to walk to it from the opposite side. It was pretty through the trees and the ducks were swimming about near the bridge.

As we walked away from the dam we crossed over the zebra crossing and went down some steep steps, a family with a pushchair and another child were trying to come up. We continued along the Dingle to the town. Through Lymm the road was busy, we walked up to Lymm Cross and then over the canal bridge and round onto the canal towpath.

We looked at the houses along the canal, but soon left Lymm and were out into the countryside.

I had thought we might find somewhere to sit for our lunch along the canal but there were no seats. Fortunately Tracey noticed a bench off the path in Spud Wood. 

It didn't take long to get back to the car across a few fields and up the road.

We were passing High Legh Garden Centre on our way home so we stopped there for tea and cake.