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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 19 March 2011

Wigan Pier and More 19th March 2011

Crossing the Leeds-Liverpool canal to link up with the walk description.
The Leeds-Liverpool Canal by the Orwell public house.
We all feel like that sometimes, but not when you go walking with Harris Hikers!
Martyn glad to be back on the towpath on the way back to Wigan Pier, 8 miles into the walk and only a few minutes after lunch!
Walk stats: Distance:13.7 miles (more than 14 if you count the walk the the Anvil public house on Downing Street in the city centre!). Climb:434'.
Time: 5 hours 23 minutes. On the move walking average:3.0 m.p.h. Overall walk average:2.5 m.p.h
Group:Martyn, Dave  and Mike D.
Things didn't start too well when we couldn't find the Trenchfield Mill Car Park and ended parking in the Mona Street car park in the city centre and to the cost of Mike's pocket to the tune of £6-50! 
However there was a bonus, it was just round the corner from the Anvil.
What another glorious day this turned out to be for walking, definitely a shorts day and the Sun shining for most of the day.
After crossing the Leeds-Liverpool canal by the Orwell public house, we didn't look at the route description or the map and we turned left along the towpath instead of right! this meant that we did the first part of the walk as far as Haigh Hall in the opposite direction to that described. However id did have the advantage that we went past the DW stadium before any of the football fans arriving to see Wigan beat Birmingham!
We were all impressed with the length of the miniature railway that went through the grounds of Haigh Hall, it's a pity that it wasn't running!
The return route back to Wigan Pier was all the way along the towpath, not too challenging in terms of route finding. In terms of seeing other people, tis was one of the most popular walks that we have been on for some time. Overall a good walk and we were back a the car before 3 p.m.!
Birds seen or heard today included: Blue tit, Great tit, Chaffinch, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Rook, Great spotted woodpecker, Mute swan, Nuthatch, Common coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Tufted duck, Black-headed gull, Canada goose, Winter wren, European robin, Eurasian jay, House sparrow, Blackbird, Goldfinch and Pied wagtail.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Anvil in the centre of Wigan where Extra Pale Ale by the Arms, Nottingham Brewery and Hydes Original and a new brew were enjoyed.
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