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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 31 March 2012

Wolfscote Dale and Pilsbury Castle 31st March 2012

Approaching Wolfscote Dale from Hartington.
One of the three Treecreepers seen today.
Pilsbury Castle.
Hartington ahead.
Walk stats: Distance: 11.2 miles. Climb: 974'.
Time: 4 hours 56 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.6 m.p.h. Overall average: 2.3 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Dave J.
The weather today was largely cloudy, but just about warm enough to be in shorts and a t-shirt. At least there was hardly any wind and only the occasional spot or two of rain.
Our bird count started well as we had superb views of a Treecreeper just as we entered Wolfscote Dale, and just a little further on a pair of Dippers. It got even better when we saw a Goldcrest and then two Grey wagtails.
Walking alongside the River Dove is always delightful in these deep limestone valleys, especially when you have the valley to yourself as we did for most of the time.
Conditions underfoot were hard and firm, absolutely no remotely muddy sections where we would normally find them.
Heading up Biggin Dale, the only bird of note was the Green woodpecker whose yaffle was heard on three occasions.
Lunch was taken on one of the many seats in the centre of Hartington village, now full of cars and people walking around. Lunch over we set off about 12-25 in the direction of Pilsbury Castle.  The only bird of note on this section was a male Wheatear, the first that we have seen on a walk this year.
The main views on the second walk were towards Longnor and the "Great white shark".
We arrived back at the car just before three, having had a superb walk in this beautiful part of the Derbyshire White Peaks".
Birds seen or heard today included: Collared dove, Blackbird, House sparrow, Blue tit, Great tit, European robin, Chiffchaff, Jackdaw, Carrion crow, Raven, Dunnock, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Common buzzard, Kestrel, Nuthatch, Green woodpecker, Dipper, Grey wagtail, Wheatear, Greenfinch, Skylark, Meadow pipit, Woodpigeon, Pied wagtail and Mallard.
As ever we enjoyed the Hartington bitter at the Wilkes Head in Leek.  They had one or two new brews on, but alas I could only sample one!

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