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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-10 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2020:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage, Wendy Peers, Celia de Mengle, Wendy and Ian Peers, Roger Smith, Paul Collinson, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Celia de Mengle, Sue Pearson.

Saturday 24 January 2009

Around Chatsworth Park 24th January 2009

Looking across the deer park to Chatsworth House. Did we make the right decision to come this way?
Walking along the ridge above Chatworth Park.
Walk stats: Distance:11.9 miles; Climb:1297'.
Time:5 hours 3 minutes; On the move walking average:2.8 m.p.h.;Overall walk average:2.4 m.p.h.
Group:Martyn, Roger, Celia, Richard and Jenny.
This walk was a little longer than we expected, in fact nearly three miles longer. The weather was good and for most of the time much warmer than any of the forecasts that we had heard. We completed the shorter circuit first that ended up at the Edensor church where Richard found the gravestone of J.F. Kennedy's sister Kathleen. For the second week running we were fortunate to find picnic tables for lunch. This time we could look across the the River Derwent to a herd of deer grazing on the opposite hillside. Today we were fortunate to see both Red deer and Fallow deer, but the animal of the day was a Brown Hare racing across the Deer park and for once getting very close to us before changing direction.
Even though Chatsworth House was closed this was a very popular area with groups of walkers like swarming ants all over the park. Not a place to come for a quiet walk in the country beautiful as it is!
Despite this minor irritation, overall this was an enjoyable ramble around the Duke of Devonshire's deer park.
Birds seen or heard today included:Nuthatch, Mallard, Robin, Coot, Canada goose, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Blue tit, Great tit, Jackdaw, Tufted duck, Housesparrow, Carrion crow and Raven.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at Wilkes Head in Leek, where the Hartington Bitter tasted wonderful. Thankfully I remembered to bring my carryout container and could enjoy another pint when I got home. It tasted even better, having warmed up a little.


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