Sunday 5 June 2011

Churnet Valley 5th June

05 June

We had two walks on 5th June both of them in the Churnet Valley area. 23 of us met up at Deep Hayes Country park just south of Leek. Here we split up with Jack leading one walk and Vince the other. The weather was fair with only a light shower in the afternoon.

Jack's Walk:-
After leaving the country park we walked along the Caldon Canal, past Cheddleton Flint Mill and also Cheddleton Railway station on the preserved steam railway. We then proceeded in a loop over the Staffordshire Moorland Walks, dropping back down into the valley at Consal. As there were no suitable steam trains available we walked back to Cheddleton along the Caldon Canal. After a little refreshment in the Boat Inn we returned to the Country Park by a different route.



Jack
Vince's shorter walk also started at the country park but we soon lost the advance party as we made a stop at The Flint Mill Cheddleton with it's two working water wheels. The cottage was especially interesting furnished as it would have been in the early 19th century although Vince found the mill workings more to his taste. We would liked to have stayed longer but the delights of the steam train beckoned which did not disappoint we even had a first class carriage! We alighted at Froghall to be greeted with sunshine and a vintage bus rally, lunch was taken outside the station buffet where we also enjoyed a cream tea and as people know I enjoy a cream tea! We then headed back along the canal meeting some lovely people along the way, called in at Consall Forge pottery (lots of teapots but no tea) then back to the Country Park where of course we were last to arrive. All in all it was a great day and many thanks to Vince for such an interesting and lovely walk.

Lesley

Photos Here


Photos Here