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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 12 October 2013

Gawsworth Hall and More 12th October 2013

Heading for Gawsworth Church and lunch.
Inside Gawsworth Church.
Ivy in flower?
Descending Bosley Locks -taken from Lock 10 (2 more to go!)
Walk stats: Distance: 13.6 miles. Climb: 624'.
Time: 6 hours 11 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.5 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.2 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn and Mike.
We set off around Bosley Reservoir with waterproof jackets on, hoping that the BBC forecast of dry all day would materialise, alas Accuweather got it right and we had 6 hours of drizzle!
 Despite the wet stuff it was a good walk, but needs to done on a warm dry sunny day.
 Lunch was taken in the grounds of Gawsworth Church, where a bench had been placed underneath a tree, so at least at lunch we out of the rain.
 The highlight at lunch time was seeing a Stoat bound across the churchyard, coming within a couple of feet of us, seemingly unaware of our presence.
 A bonus was to find the church open, so we took a look inside to see that the inside of the church well worth seeing. As we left the notice on the door said "Please close the door to keep the heat in, and stray animals out, but any lost sheep would always be welcome".
 Having not seen Bosley Locks before, I was quite surprised how many there were, and didn't envy any narrow boat owner having to ascend or descent all 12 of them!
Birds seen or heard today included: European robin, Mallard, Great crested grebe, Pied wagtail, Redwing, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Blue tit, Bullfinch, Carrion crow, Winter wren, Rook and Jackdaw.
 As Roger was on Huw duty, we realised that we were only 7 miles from Leek, so headed to the Wilkes Head, where Whim Ales Hartington Bitter lived up to my judgement as being the best bitter that I have ever tasted, and the locals were as friendly as ever.

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