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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.

Thursday 22 January 2015

Thurstaston Common, Stapledon Wood, Caldy Hill and More 22nd January 2015

Walking on Thurstaston Hill.
At the toposcope on Thurstaston Hill.
At Thor's Stone on Thurstaston Common.
"His" and"Her" picnic tables?
One of several Mistle thrushes seen as we had lunch.
The final walk along the beach from Caldy to Thursaston.
Walk stats: Distance: 8.4 miles. Climb: 480'.
Time: 4 hours 39 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk avderage: 1.8 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Annie, Sue P, Wendy David S., Phil and Paul.
We set off from the Visitor Centre on the long trek up the road towards the main road and on to Thurstaston Common. It was dull and overcast and there were no distant views from the top of Thurstaston Hill. Howver it didn't feel as cold as the weather forecasters had predicted!
  After going around the walled garden at Royden Park and then past the mere it was just about 12-00, so we could justify having lunch, atking advantage of the several picnic tables in the park.
  After lunch we continued on our route towards Stapledon Wood and Caldy, where PC had to depart to make sure he was home in time for the school run!
 It wasn't exactly planned, but we ended up exploring several paths on Caldy Hill, seeing many grand houses that we hadn't seen before.
 High tide (33') was just after mid-day, but when we arrived on the beach at Caldy, it was only just passable at one point.
 The only problem on this stretch was that the Sun was always in our eyes as we tried see the waders on the water edge or flying low over the water.
 Birds seen or heard today included:  Common blackbird, Blue tit, Great tit, European robin, Woodpigeon, Black-billed magpie, Carrion crow, Eurasian jay, Wood nuthatch, Mistle thrush, Eurasian jay, Common kestrel, Black swan, Mallard, Herring gull, Common coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Oystercatcher, Common redshank, Turnstone, Grey heron, Dunlin and Eurasian curlew.
 Overall an enjoyable walk despite the muddy sections!
 After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Wheatsheaf at Raby, where Trapper's Hat and the Oatmeal Stout went down well.

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