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Walks in detail
Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog - 4th July 2010
The unspoilt Ceiriog Valley lies south of the Vale of Llangollen and was once described as
'a little bit of heaven on earth' by Lloyd George. This walk starts from the village of Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog
in the foothills of the Berwyn Mountains and ascends to moorlands at 1500 feet. It then drops down to the settlement of Tregeiriog,
passes through Nant Y Glog and takes in part of the Upper Ceiriog Way on the return to Llanarmon DC.
John Rogerson
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Aston-by-Stone - 11th July 2010
This walk takes us through the beautiful landscape of Sandon Hall estate near Stone in Staffordshire.
The mainly flat walk has just one ascent - to a Doric column erected as a monument to William Pitt in 1806.
We shall also pass a pavilion known as Lord Harrowby's Folly which was originally part of a tower from nearby Trentham Hall.
The return will be via the picturesque village of Burston and a stretch of the Trent and Mersey Canal towpath.
Christine Smedley
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Wenlock Edge - 25th July 2010
This 8 mile moderate walk starts from the National Trust car park (free to members) off the B4371, about 3/4 mile from the ancient market
town of Much Wenlock.
The first part of the walk is along the Edge, a thickly wooded limestone escarpment with excellent views from the top, over to Caer Caradoc
and the Long Mynd to the west and over towards Bridgnorth in the east.
Wenlock Edge is recognised as part of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natuiral Beauty and contains several Sites of Special
Scientific Interest, providing a haven for much of Britain's diminishing wildlife. Much of it is now managed by the National Trust. Along the Edge,
there are old quarries and limekilns, many fossils and rare flowers, mammals, birds and insects.
The rest of the walk involves a descent into the village of Hughley, followed by a short climb back to the top of the Edge and to the car park.
Ray Sellars
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Bollington - 31st July 2010
The town of Bollington near Macclesfield is known locally as the Happy Valley. This walk starts from the Middlewood Way car park
(free, plus toilets) in Bollington and sets out along the Middlewood Way and the Macclesfield Canal towpath before heading up to the National
Trust's magnificent estate of Lyme Park and then onto open moorland. The return is via a section of the long distance path, the Gritstone Trail.
The walk includes a couple of steep climbs. There's lots more about Bollington and its surrounds here
http://happy-valley.org.uk/
Janet Fallon
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Malpas - 8th August 2010
A 9 mile undemanding walk around Malpas. The walk starts in Malpas from the Car Park opposite the fire station to follow the Bishop Bennett
Way to the south and then east of the town before joining the Marches way for the return. The walk provides fine views across the Cheshire
landscape and to the hills of North Wales. An unusual feature is found on the walk, old St Chads church built in 1689 on the site of an earlier
timber framed building. When a new church was built half a mile away, the old church was left standing in the fields on its own.
Phil Guest
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Baker Way - 14th August 2010
The day will need a prompt start from Acton. We are walking the 13 miles of the Baker Way from west to east. We will leave the car park
at Acton to catch the train from Delamere Station to Chester. The 13 miles walk back to Delamere will take us from Chester station along the
Shropshire Union canal towpath to Christleton and then via Hockenhull Platts to Tarvin. From Tarvin we will continue along tracks
and field paths towards Mouldsworth and into Delamere Forest park and on to finish the walk at Delamere station.
The walk is graded moderate to strenuous.
Peter Callery
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Cliviger Gorge, Lancs - 21st August 2010
The 7 mile walk is in the upper Calderdale Valley in a little visited part of Lancashire.
Starting from the village of Portsmouth we climb a short but steep climb on the Burnley Way and then walk 2 miles along Black Scout with
excellent views of the Cliveger Gorge, dropping then on an interesting path to Holme Chapel.
We rejoin the Burnley Way for a demanding climb to the high point of the day Thieveley Pike at 1450 feet turning left for a moorland walk
of 2 miles to Heald Moor and descent back to the start.
On the reccee low cloud stopped the ascent of the Pike so come along and help me find the way on the moors and enjoy the view down the valley to
Stoodley Pike.
Paul Stone
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Dunham Park - 29th August 2010
Meet at Haslington car park 09.00 Drive to Oldfield Brow 1 mile NW of Altringham at Seamons Road Car Park.
Walk West along Trans Pennine Trail ( Disused railway) for 1.3 miles.
Walk South through Dunham Woodhouses crossing the river Bollin then East to Little Bollington. We then go under the Bridgewater Canal
aquaduct and into Dunham Park.
We then pass the Mill, walk in front of the house and through the deer park to the Charcoal Road, We then walk towards Dunham Town and
turn right down School Lane towards the Bridgewater Canal and follow the Cheshire Ring Canal Walk back to the cars at Oldfield Brow.
Total length of Walk 6.5 miles. Suitable for regular walkers. Grade leisurely side of moderate.
David Smith
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Wye, Chee and Deep Dales - 5th September 2010
From the car park at Wye Dale (£3.50 all day parking) our route takes the riverside walk to Chee Dale where there are two sets
of stepping stones running by the side of the river. If there has been heavy rain these may be under water but, if this is the case,
there is an alternative route. Assuming the riverside way is passable we shall continue past Chee Tor and do a bit of scrambling up
some rough rock steps. We soon get back to the river valley and continue until we reach steps up to the Monsal Trail.
We'll take the Trail to Miller's Dale (where there are toilets) and then on to Miller's Dale Quarry Nature Reserve for a steepish
climb to the top of the quarry, and some excellent views. We'll then take field paths and and quiet lanes to reach the Limestone Way.
After crossing the busy A6, the route heads to Chelmorton where we shall pick up the Midshires Way. Some more field paths will bring
us to the top of Deep Dale where we take a steep zig zag path down into the dale and stay in the valley until reaching a quarry
opposite the Wye Dale car park.
Carole Bentley
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Selattyn - 11th September 2010
We will leave the Cross Keys Inn in Selattyn where the initial route leads to Craignant via paths, tracks and roads.
Here it meets the Offa's Dyke path. Travelling south over Selattyn Hill with its panoramic views over Shropshire and Wales
eventually leading to the hamlet of Carreg-y-big.
Some quiet roadwork leads to Glopa Wood where it turns north through Froel Wood and onto a road leading to a left turn onto a
footpath that leads directly back to Selattyn.
Judith and Robert Spowage
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Wybunbury and Walgherton - 19th September 2010
This is a leisurely figure of eight walk through some of the agricultural heartland of Cheshire. The route takes in parts
of the Crewe and Nantwich Circular Walk and the South Cheshire Way. As walk leader, David Vernon, says: "This is an ideal
opportunity for people wanting to start walking with the group. It is in fact two easy walks of about four miles which cross
at Wybunbury at lunchtime. People can choose to do either the morning loop or the one in the afternoon or the full eight miles."
David Vernon
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Loggerheads near Market Drayton - 26th September 2010
The leisurely 6½ mile walk starts from the elevated Staffordshire village of Loggerheads and should provide views across
the countryside of Shropshire and Cheshire. The route is through woodland, across fields and along quiet lanes, passing through
the pretty village of Fairoak.
Sue Sharpe
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Shady Oak Inn, Tiverton - 30th September 2010
The second of our morning walks, meeting at 9.45 am., starts at the Shady Oak pub,Tiverton.
The walk will be about five miles taking in parts of the Sandstone Trail, the Bishop Bennet Way and the Shropshire Union Canal.
An ideal appetiser for Lunch!
Judith Spowage
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Bickerton - 3rd October 2010
This is a popular local walk on the ridge of sandstone hills around Bickerton. The route takes in part of the long distance Sandstone
Trail and the highest point of the ridge, Raw Head. It's an area of abundant wildlife and ancient woodland and gives fine views over the
Cheshire Plain. On a clear day Liverpool's cathedrals can be seen on the horizon.
Sally Nield
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Audlem - 10th October 2010
Starting from Audlem we'll be heading west through attractive open farmland towards Lightwood Green. Crossing the River Weaver
at Brooks Mill, the walk continues through more farmland until the Shropshire Union Canal is reached. Returning to Audlem along
the canal towpath we will pass the recently opened Overwater Marina. There are a lot of stiles to cross and the route across the
fields can be quite wet underfoot so a good level of fitness and stout footwear is the order of the day. It's not advisable to
take dogs because there are a lot of cows in the fields.
Ken Wood
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Axe Edge - 24th October 2010
A 7 mile walk from the Cat and Fiddle pub near Macclesfield through the wild treeless and often bleak moorland to the half way point of
Three Shires Head where the counties of Staffordshire, Cheshire and Derbyshire converge. The return crosses open land to make its way to
Axe edge moor with its sweeping views and subsequently back to the start.
Phil Guest
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Helsby and Frodsham - 31st October 2010
This is a figure of eight and takes us to Helsby Hill (140m), from where we could see Liverpool and the Wirral peninsula.
On the Longster trail, we pass a 3 storey underground house built into the sandstone hillside. From there, walkers have
the choice of being guided back to the start or continuing to the Delamere Way with a climb past Beacon Hill and up Overton Hill
and more views.
Bernard Stanway
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Teggs Nose, Macclesfield - 6th November 2010
We take a footpath to the right of the visitors centre and descend a quiet lane to Langley, where undulating field paths with lovely
views over Macclesfield lead to Hollins Lane and the Gritstone Trail.
Heading back to the centre we follow the Gritstone Trail past 3 small reservoirs where a short steep climb with wonderful views bring
us back to the car park.
Paul Stone
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Malkins Bank Circular- 14th November 2010 ** Change to Programme **
In a change to the published programme, this walk will now be a Malkins Bank Circular of 6 miles.
There are some stiles and slopes, but it will be easy. The walk starts from the Salt Line Ranger Office and Car Park
and we walk from there to the canal at Hassall Green. It is gentle, rolling farmland with pretty wooded valleys.
The walk takes in canal and locks, salt line and an interesting house called 'Tall Chimneys'. I only intend one stop for a drink.
If anyone is interested afterwards Lock 57 is a restaurant at Hassall Green where people can go after the walk for tea and cakes,
or a meal. There is also a pub nearby called the Romping Donkey.
Christine Smedley
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Swynnerton - 21st November 2010
This leisurely 6 mile walk starts from the village of Swynnerton in Staffordshire. Part of the route is along forest tracks,
passing a converted Victorian pumping station, and we should have views of the rolling Shropshire countryside when walking across
fields.
Sue Sharpe
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Errwood Hall & Shining Tor - 28th November 2010
This is a quick winter climb from the Goyt Valley to Shining Tor, Cheshire's highest point at 559 metres.
The first point of interest is the ruined Errwood Hall, the former home of the 19th century Lancashire industrialist Samuel Grimshawe.
A little further on we shall come to a small round building which is the shrine he built in memory of his children's Spanish governess
and which usually houses a vase of fresh flowers. The last time I was there I noticed someone had also left a casket of cremated
remains of what I imagine was a pet dog or cat. We then continue with our steady but not steep climb to Shining Tor from where
there are extensive views on a clear day. From here the descent is gradual and easy.
Carole Bentley
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Haslington - 5th December 2010
This 7 mile local walk starts and finishes at the meeting place; Haslington Village Car Park.
The gentle circular route, joins short sections of the way-marked Crewe and Nantwich Circular Walk, the South Cheshire Way
and the Haslington Circular. It mostly follows footpaths over open fields and pastureland with a short section along quiet country lanes.
Of interest along the way are Haslington Hall, Winterley Pool, the M6 motorway, Oakhanger Riding school, an area of wildlife habitats
developed by the Haslington Conservation Volunteers and the Crewe Golf Course.
Meeting time: 10:00am. Contact: Eileen Dorman.
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Vale Royal - 19th December 2010
This walk passes by the many pools and lakes of mid Cheshire. From the Whitegate Way we will come to the river Weaver, then
the Vale Royal locks. After a succession of pools, we will see the numerous large lakes created by the sand excavations over the years.
Bernard Stanway
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Hilbre Island - 28th December 2010
Shake off those post Christmas blues with a 4 mile walk across the sands of the Dee estuary to the Hilbre islands nature reserve.
The tides have been checked so meet at Acton village Car Park at 9am for a drive into the Wirral. The islands are situated at the mouth
of the Dee Estuary and form part of the Dee estuary site of special scientific interest. In addition to the host of sea birds that pass though
this point one can see large numbers of grey seals.
Phil Guest
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