The Winter Garden at Dunham Massey

Saturday 7th February 2015

This morning we had a wander around the winter garden at Dunham Massey, and here are a few photos of the snowdrops, daffodils and irises.

posted from Bloggeroid

Snow on the Trans Pennine Trail

Thursday 29th January 2015

A few photos from a snowy walk along the Stockport to Didsbury section of the Trans Pennine Trail.

Heading down Gorsey Bank Road towards the footbridge

Looking up the Mersey from Gorsey Bank footbridge

Between the M60 and Vale Road

Near Green Pastures

posted from Bloggeroid

Autumn Colours at Dunham Massey

Sunday 28th September 2014 

Here's a couple of photos from this morning's trip to the wonderful gardens at Dunham Massey, showing that Autumn is now well and truly here!

Shining Tor at Dusk

Tuesday 1st April 2014 

An evening walk up Shining Tor in the western Peak District 

Distance: 6km; Ascent: 280m; Dry with light winds; Solo

See tracked route in new window

Now that the Spring Equinox had passed and the clocks have gone forward, it's now possible to head out for a hill walk in the light evenings after work :-)  Therefore this evening at 7pm I set off walking from beside Errwood Reservoir and ascended westwards past the ruins of Errwood Hall.

Errwood Reservoir

Ruins of Errwood Hall

I've climbed Shining Tor many times before, but today I noticed a route of ascent I hadn't used before and hence set off climbing up a zig-zagging vehicle track through the woods to the west of Errwood Hall.  I gained height quickly, with good views back westwards to the moors on the far side of the reservoirs, and soon reached the end of the vehicle track shortly after leaving the woods.

Looking east towards Combs Edge

Looking N along the ridge to Cats Tor

I followed a path westwards to meet the main slabbed path along the north ridge of Shining Tor, with good views north towards Cats Tor.  I had arrived on the ridge shortly before sunset, so I spent a few minutes taking a few snaps before continuing on to the summit and trigpoint on Shining Tor (Marilyn, Dewey).

Dusk skies from Shining Tor ridge

Sunset from Shining Tor ridge

Sunset from Shining Tor ridge

Shining Tor trigpoint

After a quick break on the summit I headed SE towards Stake Side before following the pleasant ridge NNE down towards Errwood Reservoir in fading light.  Around half way down I resorted to using my head torch as it was now getting quite dark.  I reached the car at around twenty to nine after a pleasant 6km evening hill walk.

A Moorland Walk in Lyme Park

Friday 14th February 2014 

A windy walk in and around Lyme Park on the western edge of the Peak District 

Distance: 15km; Ascent: 420m; Very windy - heavy rain later; with Lynsey

See tracked route in new window

It had been some time since Lynsey & I had been out for a decent hill walk together, so we were determined to take advantage of a child-free day today to get out for a walk.  Unfortunately however the weather had other ideas!  Therefore due to the strong winds forecast we decided to go for a slightly lower level walk in the moorlands of Lyme Park.

On the way up Cage Hill

We set off from outside Disley Station shortly before 10am and headed along a lane to enter the northern edge of Lyme Park, before ascending up Cage Hill, which is topped by a tower known as The Cage.

The Cage

The Cage

Lyme Hall from Cage Hill

After passing the Lyme Hall we ascended ESE up past a forest to reach the edge of the moorlands, before reaching a minor road.  Soon afterwards we reached the Bowstones, which according to the sign are shafts from Saxon crosses.

Looking south towards Reed Hill and Shining Tor

The Bowstones

Now we had the most exposed section of the walk to look forward too!  We continued SSW along the track towards Sponds Hill, stopping on route to don waterproofs due to the entirely expected arrival of the heavy rain.  It was pretty windy on Sponds Hill so we decided to forgo the opportunity to visit the summit trig point and instead walked perpendicular to the wind, eastwards along the outside edge of the southern boundary of Lyme Park.

Just outside the western edge of Lyme Park

After crossing the moorland it was nice to descend out of the wind as we approached West Parkgate, from where we followed the estate track NE back into Lyme Park and on to the cafe for a well earned lunch of soup and cake.  It was nice to be inside out of the now very strong wind and rain, but we couldn't stay here forever!  So after lunch we headed back out to brave the stormy weather, to head north to Parkgate and back to Disley village after a good walk.

Heading north towards Parkgate

On the way to Parkgate

Marbury Country Park

Sunday 16th February 2014 

An sunny walk around Marbury Country Park and along the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath 

Distance: 6km; Ascent: negligible; Sunny; with Lynsey, Isabel, Olivia & Margaret

See tracked route in new window

As it was actually forecast to be sunny today, we decided to head out for a family walk in the Cheshire countryside.  We set off from the car park at Marbury Country Park and walked through Hopyards Wood to reach the Anderton Boat Lift, where we had lunch in the cafe there.  To return to the car, we walked along the Trent & Mersey Canal's towpath to reach Big Wood and the car park beyond.  Here are a few photos from the walk:

In Marbury Country Park

Trent & Mersey Canal near Anderton

Trent & Mersey Canal

Daffodils at Dunham Massey

Tuesday 11th March 2014

Here's a quick photo of some of the lovely daffodils in Dunham Massey's winter garden this afternoon :-)

posted from Bloggeroid

An Afternoon Stroll at Tatton Park

Sunday 9th March 2014

It was a lovely sunny day today so we headed out for a family day to enjoy the nice weather at Tatton Park.  We had a good afternoon stroll of around 4km around part of the deer park near Melchett Mere and Tatton Mere, and here are a few photos:

Melchett Mere

Lone Deer in Tatton Park

Melchett Mere

In Tatton Park near Melchett Mere

Spring is on the way!

Tuesday 25th February 2014 

This afternoon we spent a pleasant hour or so wandering around the Winter Garden at Dunham Massey admiring the many snowdrops, daffodils and irises.  Spring might just be on the way!

An Afternoon Walk along the River Mersey and Bridgewater Canal

Saturday 18th January 2014 

A walk from Stockport to Altrincham, mainly along riverside and canalside paths 

Distance: 23.5km; Ascent: negligible; Mainly dry with occasional sunshine; Solo

See tracked route in new window

Car trouble prevented me from getting into the hills today, so instead I opted for a more local walk.  Therefore after having dropped the car at the garage I set off westwards at around 11am along the Trans Pennine Trail, which here follows the north bank of the River Mersey.

River Mersey near East Didsbury

Around Didsbury the Trans Pennine Trail leaves the river, but I instead decided to stick with the Mersey and continued along a muddy footpath past the colourfully painted Didsbury Sluice Gate building.

Didsbury Sluice Gate

River Mersey near Millgate Farm

Soon the path improved and I reached Simon's Bridge, which according to the plaque dates from 1901.  Shortly afterwards I left the river to take a short-cut footpath across a golf-course to avoid one of the many large meanders of the Mersey around here.

Simon's Bridge

After another couple of kilometres I reached Chorlton Water Park, where I stopped for a quick bite to eat at a handily located picnic bench.

Chorlton Water Park

Now back alongside the Mersey, I continued downstream under the new bridge, which was built for the Metrolink extension to the airport, and on past Jackson's Bridge.

New Metrolink bridge near Jackson's Bridge

I left the river once again to follow the Trans Pennine Trail through Chorlton Ees Nature Reserve and on underneath the Altrincham Metrolink line and the Bridgewater Canal.  Here I left the Trans Pennine Trail and instead picked up the Bridgewater Way south along the towpath of the Bridgewater Canal.

Bridgewater Canal

Bridgewater Canal

My original plan had been to walk along the canal as far as Dunham Massey, but given the time and the fact that I'd just have to walk back into Altrincham from there to catch the train home, I instead decided to head directly for Altrincham station.  I arrived at the station at around quarter to four, in plenty of time for the hourly train back home to Stockport after a pleasant few hours walking.

See also my Social Hiking live map from the walk.

A Short Wander Around Dunham Massey's Winter Garden

Sunday 9th February 2014 

There was a short break in the rain forecast for early this afternoon so we headed out for a wander around Dunham Massey's Winter Garden.  Below are a couple of photos of some of the snowdrops and iris flowers.