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It's always a pleasure to visit Styal Woods, even when - like today - the sun isn't shining.
This was my routine 'Friday' walk. Adjusted to Thursday this week due to a commitment tomorrow (which is now later today!). The 'new normal' restricts me to one companion, who can be from another household [I hope that if anyone reads this in a generation's time, they will be suitably bemused]. Paul B, having been in the right place at the right time, was my worthy companion today.
We set off through the woods. Just imagine what the colours would be like if the sun was shining.
Giant's Castle Bridge always reminds me of similarly named places in the Drakensberg mountains near Johannesburg.
It was muddy in the woods, but even more muddy on the path around the airport perimeter. Very few aircraft were in use.
My Keen Targhee 2 trail shoes proved adequate in keeping the moisture out - even in a waterlogged field, but Paul's less robust shoes eventually relinquished their defence against the elements.
After a pause for fudge and tea, field paths led to Wilmslow, where this ancient barn seemed to be held up by the bales of hay stored under its roof.
After jogging slowly through some of Wilmslow's ginnels, and taking a path that was shut due to the risk of falling trees (no wind today - we ignored the barriers), we reached Twinnies Bridge, where the car park was full and the path to Styal Mill was very busy.
Styal Mill was built by Samuel Greg in 1784, and by the time he retired in 1832 the mill was the biggest cotton spinner in the UK. It's a huge place.
Previous visits to the Styal Mill area are recorded
here. Recently, a new entrance building has been added to this National Trust property. There was a light on inside, but today the buildings were all closed.
Back in Styal village, we discovered that Earlams Community Cafe was open for takeaways, so we got some coffees and sat outside the (very much shut) Ship Inn to sup them before returning home for lunch.
Here's our route - 12 km with 150 metres ascent, taking a little over two hours. Allow three hours at a more gentle pace. A delightful outing despite a few bits of mud.
2 comments:
Sounds a quick walk, but I notice you referred to jogging at one point?
Yes Conrad, it was quite a speedy walk.
Apropos to the key comments, I have a dread of locking myself between our front door and porch door. Perhaps I need to secrete a spare front door key under the lino in the porch! (Or in one of the meter cupboards, or at least take the precaution of hiding a pee bottle somewhere in the porch...)
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