Styal Mill at Christmas

What a great way to blow away the Christmas festivities , a blustry walk was the answer and Styal Country Park was the destination.
Styal Mill is one of the National Trust properties in Cheshire, with a great working mill and fantastic gardens and woodland ,although the gardens are not open at this time of year as is the case with most National Trust houses.

                                                   The Mill is decorated for Christmas.

                There is a church in the near by styal village which looked lovely in Christmas design.

It was quite muddy away from the footpath through the woods , but eventually we are at the rear of what used to be The Valley Lodge Hotel ,some great party nights had there in the 70`s , it is now part of The
 " Best  Western " hotel chain.
We now follow the perimeter fence of the runway at Manchester Airport and back to Styal.

So it just leaves me to say I wish you all a

                                                                  and a Happy and healthy 2014

Tatton Park

Well we can`t believe it is just ten days till Christmas day , the weather has been so mild for the winter season ,hope i`m not speaking too soon :)
So we are making the most of the mild weather and heading to Tatton Park in Cheshire which is a National Trust property.
We have a lovely walk from the Knutsford entrance to the Stately Hall which was looking magnificent and festive.
There are lots of families and dog walkers taking advantage of a pleasant Sunday afternoon.

                                                              Views across the mere.

The nice thing about walking in the winter is enjoying a mug of hot chocolate to warm yourself :)

The Founders Walk .......Rugby League Cares

Today I lead a group of walkers from Widnes and Warrington Rugby Academy , groups are walking the Trans Pennine Trail raising money for the games heritage,future and welfare of badly injured players.Even though the weather was very "wet" ,plenty of laughs kept us going :)

OH ! Mr Darcy

We have been members of the National Trust for a number of years and enjoy visiting their properties.
Today we decide to visit Lyme Park ,it nestles in the Peak district just on the boundaries with neighbouring Cheshire.
It is a magnificent house with beautiful gardens and adjoining woodland.

In 1995 Lyme Park was used in the television production of Pride and Prejudice , and in celebration of the 200th year since the publication of the book ,we were treated to a very large scale figure of Mr Darcy emerging from the lake :)

We take a leisurely walk through the woodland , the views were magnificent but care had to be taken as it is rutting season for the beautiful deer that have their home on the estate.We were hoping to hear the sounds of roar from the stags as they gather their herd but all was quiet today.

The gates on the perimeter of the woodland are really tall ,we think this will be so the dear cannot jump them , we felt like we were in the Alice in Wonderland book.

 We have had the best of today`s weather and as the clouds roll in we head for the tea room and a lovely mug of hot chocolate and a slice of home made cake ... perfect end to a lovely afternoon :)

Beautiful Barmouth

We woke up to a beautiful morning last Wednesday, and the hubby made a suggestion that he takes the day off work and we head for the seaside to make the most of what could be the last day of summer.
Over the years we have visited the seaside resort of Barmouth in North Wales.It is a beautiful place and not too commercialised, we love it and have happy memories of family holidays there in times gone by.
As we come round the coast road we see the railway which takes you across the estuary to Fairbourne and the small boats moored in the harbour.

It is the first time Honey has been to Barmouth , but we know she will love the beach :)

And true to form she heads straight into the sea and had a splashing time ,and it didn`t take me long to get my shoes and socks off and paddle beside her.

Barmouth has a lovely coast road which hugs the coast line ,it is a dead end road with a car park ,so we park there and enjoy the mile or so walk along the beach back to the resort centre and have a much welcomed refreshment at "Davy Jones Locker " cafe`.
The weather is beautiful and everyone is making the most of the last warmth of summer as we quickly move towards the rich colours of autumn.

                                                  We had a great day and a refreshing walk.

Malham

We haven`t done a walk in the Yorkshire Dales for a while ,so today we are heading for Malham.
There was a large pay and display car park close to the village of Malham where we start our walk.
We walk through the picturesque village and follow the way marker for Malham Cove ,the path is part of the Pennine Way.
                                               The Cove is a sight of grandeur as we approach.

We sit at the flat summit to take in the fabulous view and eat our sandwiches and enjoy a well earned rest for a while after the strenuous climb up a well formed stepped path.

We set off again down hill and after a beautiful walk we proceed along another path way which is taking us to the picturesque Gordale Scare.

We think about heading back to Malham Village, thinking we would need to follow the road (boring ) we are surprised to see a National Trust public footpath which hugs the river back to the village with the added pleasure of seeing a most beautiful waterfall named "Janet's Foss " what a gem of a find.

So we have had a beautiful walk with a fitting end with a mug of coffee in the "Muddy Boots " cafe :)

Cruising the " Cheshire Ring "

we so enjoyed our canal boat holiday last year we decided to do it again .
So we are going to cruise the "Cheshire Ring " starting from Anderson Boat Hire in Middlewich on a beautiful July afternoon we head off on the Trent and Mersey canal.
Just before reaching Harecastle Tunnel we turn onto the Macclesfield Canal, this is a much narrower canal but very pretty scenery.

                                                                     Ramsdell Hall

                                                                              Mow Cop
You can just about make out the image of Mow Cop on the hillside , we walked along this stretch of canal and up to Mow Cop just a few weeks ago.

                         There are pretty bridges , cottages and fields all along this stretch of canal.

We moor for the night at Higher Poynton and have much needed refreshment at the Miners Arms which was a lovely country public house , as we sat outside we were treated to a pony and trap passing by ,
 so country :)
We leave Macclesfield Canal and turn on to the Peak Forest Canal , where we are met with the Marple flight of 16 locks ....nice ..

                                    Half way through .. time for a sit and pose for the camera :)

We are advised it best to go through Manchester all in one day ,so we spend the night at Portland Basin.
Next morning we set off at 6am , and start the Rochdale canal to travel through Manchester city centre.
It just happens to be the hottest day of 2013 and we have a massive 27 locks to navigate !!!!

 Manchester City Football Club

                                                               Cycling Velodrome

                                                                     Canal Street

                                                     The last lock at Castlefield Basin
      We stay the night in the Castlefield Basin , it is a hot balmy night and the bars are all buzzing

                                                lights coming on as evening approaches


We can sigh with relieve , we are on the Bridgewater canal and NO LOCKS :):) all the hard work has been done :):)

We Cruise through Sale ,Lymm, Stockton Heath, Preston Book ,Northwich and back to base in Middlewich :)

                                               the mighty Manchester United Football Club

                                               Looking across to Norton Priory -Runcorn


                                        Cheshire Ring complete :):) and all in one week :)

                                              and one large friend made :):) Lucy the Great Dane.