JJ's Stuff: Sunday 27th May, a walk in Cheshire

Monday 4 June 2012

Sunday 27th May, a walk in Cheshire

I had only arrived home from the TGO Challenge 2 days earlier and here I was, involved in leading a long walk for the East Lancashire LDWA. The walk, entitled ‘Jump in the Lake + Afternoon Tea’ was a slight variation on the route I had previously been involved with.

The route covered 16 miles in the gentle countryside of North Cheshire – and it had a trig point.

I awoke at Stupid O’Clock on the Sunday morning and thought ‘Ooh-er, it’s not raining. And the sun’s shining…..perhaps people WILL turn up for today’s walk!’

I arrived at the start to find 17 walkers milling around the genteel back streets of Hale, much to the consternation of the local residents. They hadn’t seen so much on-street activity since, well, the riots of last summer? Perhaps not.

Expeditionary Force of the East Lancs LDWA on a sortie into Cheshire

At 9.03am prompt we set off, all of us were well-plastered with suncream, wearing hats etc, such was the strength of the sun.

Walking through pleasant woodland (well I thought it was pleasant!!) we soon gained the banks of the River Bollin, it’s rippling surface dappled by the bright sunshine that flickered through the leafy trees.

There’s artistic for you. It goes downhill from here.

I’ve been involved in leading this walk before, but this time the route has been changed ever-so slightly. Previously we went through Castle Mill, but this time we bypassed the place and climbed away from the river bank across green fields. The climb was to prove to Norman that there were climbs in our part of Cheshire. There was a trig point too. There’s to be a commando-type raid soon, the idea being to clean up the trig point and paint it in an attempt to return it to it’s former glory. But I’ve no idea who may be responsible for that. Honest.

Norman & Barbara. And a mucky trig point.

Heading towards Manchester Airport’s now not-so-new Runway 2, we walked through a lot of ‘manufactured’ countryside. When the runway works were approved, a condition of the development was that the Airport Authority return the surrounding area to a habitat suitable for the wildlife that was once common in the area. This they have done with great success with lots of small ponds, woodland, buildings suitable for bats and so on. It was the area used by the environmental protestor ‘Swampy’ to stage his demonstrations.

We were soon level with the end of one of the airport runways and spent a good few minutes watching planes land and take off. It’s a man thing.

Another splendid rear view

Once again following the River Bollin and on airport-only roadways and tracks, the River Bollin culvert appeared. Norman was impressed….so it MUST be good. Again, wildlife is well catered for in this man-made tunnel, nesting boxes and wild-life ‘runs’ had been provided by the developers. On a previous walk through the tunnel anglers were fishing for trout – although I don’t know if they were successful.

River Bollin culvert under Manchester Airport’s Runway 2

A first lunch stop was called, and a pleasant 20 or so minutes was spent in the sunshine before we wandered of in a southerly direction, alongside Runway 2.

First lunch stop

Alongside Runway 2

Our route took us through more (flat) pleasant countryside, and around mid-day a second lunch stop was called for on a green and grassy bank close to the Manchester – Chester railway line. Setting off once again, one of our group pointed out that the A380 Airbus was due to land at Manchester Airport at 12.20 – and that we were directly under the flightpath. At 12.20 precisely, the earth moved. If you’ve ever seen the opening scene from Star Wars it might give you some idea of how enormous the A380 is – absolutely huge. It’s another man-thing.A big ‘un

Skirting the village of Mobberley, we walked through lots of horsey fields. Two horses, separated by an electric fence, were leaning over the barrier to, er, lick each others backs. It was tragically comical to hear the loud neighs of protest when they accidently touched up against the high voltage line.

Electric horses

Onwards through to Knutsford – and a stop at an ice-cream shop. Very welcome in the heat.

Into the cool shade of Tatton Park’s woodland and alongside Tatton Mere. This was the body of water used by No1 Parachute Training School to practice water landings by parachute during WW2.

Monument to No1 Parachute Training School

A very poignant memorial to the training school provided us with another photo opportunity, not just of the memorial, but also the views over the Peak District – the distinctive profile of Shutlingsloe being very prominent.

The very grand Tatton Hall (NT), once the seat of the Egerton family, and it’s equally grand outbuildings provided yet another stop – for comfort if nothing else. The courtyard was teaming with day-visitors, all enjoying the hot sunshine.

To leave the park we had to pass Home Farm which provides a picture of rural life where time has stood still since the 1930s.

Across to farmland and following a church track, we soon arrived at the main attraction of the day: St Mary’s Church, Rostherne.

St Mary’s Church, Rostherne

Tea, coffee and scones (pronounced SCONS) were provided by the church at minimal cost to us, but more importantly we were made extremely welcome and enjoyed a fascinating talk about the church’s history.

What DID our lecturer think of these boot-clad, sweaty Lancastrian walkers?

Little is known about the early history of the church. There is no reference to a church at Rostherne in the Domesday Book but a deed dated 1188 states that a church had been on the site. Prior to that it was a site of Pagan worship – like so many now-Christian churches.

Norman insisted he show us where he used to go birdwatching by Rostherne Mere….although I couldn’t quite make mind up if he was talking of the feathered or un-feathered variety.

It wasn’t long before we once again crossed the River Bollin and we were back at our cars.

We were at the end of the day’s expedition and the sun was still very hot. I’m sure that, even with suncream, many of the group will suffer some degree of sunburn.

It was a cracking day out and thanks must go to everyone who turned up to make it such a success – especially John Bullen who arranged the Afternoon Tea bit – a brilliant idea!.

The only sad bit was that John, still suffering from South West Coast Path-itis was unable to join us. John: you missed a grand day out!

My photo album of the day is here.