Walking Group 1
Group Leader: Pat Lee
Tel: 07769 877293
Email: info@knutsfordu3a.co.uk
Walks take place fortnightly, alternating between Mondays and Wednesdays, and are between 5 and 7 miles in length, easy to moderate walking, with the occasional pub lunch. We usually meet in the lay-by on Mobberley Road, just before the water tower (Travis Perkins) at 09.30, or elsewhere, by prior arrangement.
For further details, please contact Pat on 07769 877293.
Pat Lee
Programme – Jul 2024 to Jun 2025
| Date | Leader | Walk Details | Lunch | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 10 July | Pat Lee | Wepre Park near Connah's Quay and will be a circular through Ewloe along pavements, tracks and through farmland, where we might encounter cattle. There are steps and 2 stiles. It is a one hour drive from Knutsford. Refreshments will be taken in the Visitor Centre following the walk, but you will need to bring a drink/snack for on route. Please let me if you wish to join me by Monday evening and I will then send out further details. | 5.5 miles | |
| Mon 22 July | Mark Barley | In the Acton Bridge area. 5.5 miles, 390 feet of elevation. Part along canal towpath. More details to follow. | 5.5 miles | |
| Wed 7 Aug | ||||
| Mon 19 Aug | ||||
| Wed 4 Sept | Alan Perks | The walk will start from Prestbury village to Mottram and back via Hare Hill. It’s about 6 miles on mainly footpaths and bridleways, a few small inclines and about 6 stiles as I remember. We will start from Springfields Car Park in Prestbury village (It was free at the time of the recce, but I believe that charges are to be introduced by Cheshire East - not sure when. So better to meet at Mobberley Road and car share where possible). Anyone going direct, we aim to start the walk at 10am. The pub grub seemed a bit expensive in the village - well I suppose it’s Prestbury - so we’ll take a packed lunch. | Picnic | 6 miles |
| Mon 16 Sept | Mark Barley | Meet at the layby on Mobberley road at 9:30 or at The Leigh Arms (where the A49 crosses the River Weaver at Acton Bridge) for 10:00. Park on the road rather than in the pub car park. The walk will be about 5.5 miles with 390 feet of elevation gain. We can eat a packed lunch close to the cars on the edge of the river. Please bring stout footwear (there may be some mud) and waterproofs, and let me (Mark) know if you intend to come (07791 257507). | 6 miles | |
| Wed 2 Oct | Jude Halman 07879 677528 | Lindow Common car park (A538). Window on Lindow Art Trail - 10.00 start. 5/6 miles on the peat bog so tree roots and uneven ground while looking at the Art Works, then reasonable paths. Please let me know if you are planning to come, or need a lift. | Bring a snack | 5-6 miles |
| Mon 14 Oct | Pat Lee 07769 877293 | Ness and The Dee Marshes. No stiles. Refreshments at Ness Botanical Gardens Café, with an option to visit the Gardens | 6 miles | |
| Wed 30 Oct | Valerie Young 07534 165722 | Starting at Barnes Bridge Car Park ((GR. 542 715) in Delamere Forest and explores part of the forest and two Meres; Blakemore and Flaxmere. Coffee stop at Visitor Centre or Delamere station cafe. | 6 miles | |
| Mon 11 Nov | Evelyn Flett | Starting from the Red Bull pub at Church Lawton ST7 3AJ, along the Trent and Mersey Canal, up and over the Harecastle Tunnel, returning via Bathpool Park. Paths are firm with no steep ascents/descents and no stiles. Meet at the Mobberley Road layby at 9.30am. Please ring 01565 653048 to book on the walk and specify if you are lunching at the pub. | Pub lunch at the Red Bull. | 6.5 miles |
| Wed 27 Nov | Valerie Young 07534 165722 | Wincle or Delamere, more information to follow. | 5 miles | |
| Mon 9 Dec | Pat Lee | A short, but interesting urban walk in Manchester, taking in part of the Aston Canal towpath, New Islington Marina, with one or two interesting sculptures along the way. Lunch will be at Mackie Mayor, housed in the iconic old Smithfield Market. For more details, please contact Pat on 07769 877293. | ||
| 2025 | ||||
| Wed 8 Jan | ||||
| Mon 20 Jan | Alan Perks 07969 055774 | More details to follow. | ||
| Wed 5 Feb | Mark Barley 07791 257507 | An urban walk in Manchester, entitled ‘Building Stones’. More details to follow. | ||
| Mon 17 Feb | ||||
| Wed 5 Mar | Mark Barley 07791 257507 | A walk in the Marple area. More details to follow. | ||
| Mon 17 Mar | Tom Weston 07730 802070 | More details to follow. | ||
| Wed 2 Apr | Pat Lee 07769 877293 | More details to follow. | ||
| Mon 14 Apr | ||||
| Wed 30 Apr | ||||
| Mon 12 May | ||||
| Wed 28 May | ||||
| Mon 9 Jun | ||||
| Wed 25 Jun | Alan Perks 07969 055774 | More details to follow. |
2024 Walks
Monday 11th November led by Eveyln Flett
Was it Evelyn’s interesting route for the walk, or the delicious food on the menu at The Red Bull, Church Lawton, that attracted 14 walkers today?
We’ll never know, but both were very enjoyable, and the food was tasty, very good value for money, with a smaller portions menu, which satisfied several of us.
The route took us from the pub, along the Trent and Mersey canal, then up and over the Harecastle Tunnel from the north to south entrance. We arrived here just in time to watch a narrowboat inching its way out of the tunnel.
Meandering through Bathpool Park, several of our members took advantage of the exercise equipment alongside the pathway.
Monday 14th October at The Dee Marshes
Perfect walking conditions today; still, dry and the sun poked through the clouds on the odd occasion.
8 walkers left the Mobberley Road lay-by at 9.30 in 2 cars and after parking at Ness Botanical Gardens (free parking), we set off and soon descended to the Dee Estuary to take the King Charles III National Costal Path.
Egrets were spotted on the marshes and a Kestrel hovering nearby.
There was something of interest for our Geology Group members present, when we walked through a sandstone cutting, excavated for the original railway.
We took a little detour off The Wirral Way to look at the quirky Neston Fairy Wood, before continuing along the route back to Ness Gardens, where we all enjoyed a pleasant lunch.
The walk was 6.03 miles long with 313ft ascent and 314ft descent, no stiles. Thank you to all my co-walkers for your jovial company.
Pat Lee
Monday 19th February at Dunham
Due to the weather forecast predicting heavy rain during the morning, Mark made a wise decision to delay the start until 1pm. He had three companions join him and they began in drizzle at Denzell Gardens, Altrincham, traversed the A56 twice and crossed the golf course, keepings heads well down! The route continued along the canal towpath, but after all the rain the going was rather hazardous, so wisely it was decided to curtail the walk and head for cake and coffee at Dunham Massey. The rain had stopped on the return journey and the sun had come out, so not a complete washout.
2021 Walks
Wednesday 30th June at Lymm
We were blessed with pleasant weather for Jill’s walk around Lymm and it was great that there were 12 taking part.
The walk began at Lymm Dam car park. We took the path around the dam and then wandered into the village, where we paused for the photo and to watch the wildlife at the lower dam. From here we joined the canal tow path and took a welcome coffee break on benches conveniently located on the path. Suitably refreshed, we were one less from here, as David retraced his steps back to his car, due to a prior engagement. On leaving the towpath, via stone steps, we inched our way along a very narrow pavement alongside a busy little stretch of road, through a low tunnel. Presently we were meandering through fields of oats and then the lanes of Oughtrington (pronounced Ootrington, we were reliably informed, by a couple of passing locals), back to the car park.
Monday 15th June at Mobberley
Roger led a lovely 6½ mile easy walk today from St Wilfred’s church in Mobberley, over fields, lanes, tracks and pathways, taking us around the perimeter of runway 2, which was eerily quiet, due to lack of flight traffic. The weather was kind to us, not too hot, with a light wind. Lots to look at on route, from an angry bull that objected to having his photo taken, a horse with an identity crisis, a wonderful array of wild flowers (expertly identified by the keen botanists in the group) and a peaceful panorama over the airport runway. Coffee and lunch was taken sat by a small lake where Damsel Flies flitted about the surface. Lots of chat and laughter along the way, which is what it’s all about isn’t it. A great walk and one to repeat. Many thanks Roger for leading.
Photos courtesy of Roger, Alan and myself. Alan provided the route map.
Wednesday 2nd June at Arley
We were blessed with beautiful weather for David and Pat Walton’s walk around the Arley estate on Wednesday 2 June. There were seven of us and it was delightful to amble around the lanes and pathways bordered by many wildflowers, as we enjoyed a chat. Our coffee stop, thankfully in the shade, was by a pond (see photo) displaying a water feature, which gave a sense of peace and tranquility. Home by 12.30, this was a lovely morning walk. Thanks to David and Pat for organising.
Wednesday 5th May around Knutsford
We were in two groups 15 minutes apart, although within 10 minutes my later group had narrowed the gap somewhat. Walking along Booths Hall farm track, we were confronted by a dozen-or-so cows meandering towards us down the track, being shepherded by Alan Norbury, the farmer, on his Quadbike. We kept close to the left fence line and the cows were gracious enough to keep in single file, close to the right fence line. After that rush of excitement, we settled down to wander along the track and over the fields to Longridge. A quick visit to see the newly cleared St Helena’s churchyard, where we caught up with group two. After meandering along ginnels, footpaths and tracks we made our way into Toft Woods, where Jill found a convenient fallen tree for us to perch on, whilst we drunk our flasks of coffee. Onward, we exited the woods and crossed Chelford Road to make our way back to the start, just in time to return home for lunch.
Mark, leader of group two: “I’m not sure we took the planned route at the end of the walk (we walked down Goughs Lane to the Chelford road, rather than going into Toft woods), but we had a very enjoyable walk, with Roger giving us a guided tour of the allotments and several other distractions along the route. For someone who doesn’t know Knutsford that well it was all very interesting.”
Photos below courtesy of Roger.
Annual Linear Walks
For a report on the Annual Linear Walks organised by Walking Groups 1 and 2, 2012 – 2016 click on Linear Walks
Walking Group 1 & 3 – Trip to Castleton, August 2019
At the beginning of August members of Walking Groups 1 and 3 combined to go on a coach trip to Castleton. Having driven through Whaley Bridge about half an hour before the village was closed and evacuated due to rain damage to the dam above it roughly half the group alighted in a layby to do a 5 mile linear walk into Castleton via Rushup Edge, Mam Tor, Hollins Cross and down into the village. The weather was perfect for walking, the scenery on both sides of the ridge was spectacular and the group enjoyed a lunch stop with sweeping views of the valley. This photo was taken at the summit of Mam Tor.
The second group of walkers stayed on the coach as far as Edale where, after a coffee stop, they did a slightly shorter, low level circular walk which also included some lovely scenery and a lunch stop. They then got back on the coach and were driven to Castleton to meet up with the linear walk group for tea and a look round the village. Wendy, our very obliging coach driver, then had to take us back to Knutsford via a very circuitous route as, by that time, Whaley Bridge had been completely closed off due to the danger of the dam bursting. All in all it was a very enjoyable day out and we avoided all the rain that was around on that day. Thanks to Margaret Hinde and Margaret Cole who helped to organise the trip.
Sue Allan
Malham Walking Holiday, April 2015
Malham Visitor Centre
Malham Cove
Lunch Spot on Walk from Clapham
Gritstone Trail Walk, June 2014
Between 16th and 25th June 2014, members from Walking Groups 1 and 2 walked the Gritstone Trail from Nelson Pit to Mow Cop. The following are photographs along the way.
White Nancy
Croker Hill
Mow Cop