9.00am and ready to go, this has got to be a record for us.  Normally it takes at least 20 minutes for our group to decide what to wear and then don the chosen items.  The weather was dull and windy but the absence of rain made a nice change from the last few days.  Starting from the Swan with Two Nicks pub at Bollington, we walked past the National Trust Base Camp and down the cobbled lane to the Bridgewater Canal.  After passing under the canal we climbed up to the bank and set off towards Lymm.  The sign on the wall informed us that we were walking over an “Underbridge” but with no name to the bridge it seemed strange that the canal company had felt that this rather trivial bit of information 2 warranted a plaque. When there is little else to see on a canal the barge names are always amusing and the Five of Spades card on one barge was certainly unusual.  A little further on another barge was called “In-Dispute”.  Could this have resulted from an unsettled argument about what to call the barge?  As we passed the “Number 3” pub the number of barges and boats moored on the canal increased.   Some of these were bright and clean but many more were absolutely filthy.  My car, which is never the cleanest, would look sparkling alongside some of these.  Passing under Agden Bridge we came upon the boat Marina and Repair Yard.  Tucked into the middle of this area is the “Barn Owl” pub.  Though probably known to most boat owners,  the amount of passing car traffic on the road behind the pub is virtually nil, and we wondered how many people knew of its existence.  A little further on and we came to an old deserted warehouse with a heavy beam at roof level from which the hoist would have lifted the cargo from the barges.  It was nice to see a bit of history but the building looked as if it had been unused for many years and probably now needs a spot of maintenance.  The planned route was to leave the canal where it crossed Mill Lane but with everybody talking this was nearly missed.  Descending to Mill Lane we walked towards Heatley and came to the “Railway Inn” alongside the old railway line which has now become the “Trans Pennine Trail”.  At this point we entered the trail and were now walking in an easterly direction towards Altrincham.  The signboard on the trail showed the full extent of the trail from Southport to Hull though we considered that walking the full length might be a bit too long for our Thursday walk.  The old Station was still standing and the surface of the trail looked good despite the wear it takes from pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders.  On a cold windy day there was little bird life to be seen but one field held a good size flock of about 60 fieldfare.  After crossing the Bollin River we came to some fancy metal gates where the trail meets Station Road at Dunham Woodhouses with the “Rope &  Anchor” pub a few yards along Station Road.  After another mile we passed Blackmoss Covert Nature Reserve managed by the Cheshire Wildlife Trust and reached the junction of the trail with Seamons Road.  Here we left the trail and walking down Seamons Road we passed the “Bay of Malton” pub and rejoined the Bridgewater Canal.  Once more we were walking along the canal towards Lymm but it was not long before we arrived at School Lane, Dunham Town.  Leaving the canal we walked down School Lane passing the village hall and then the old school which was built in 1759.  Many of the cottages in Dunham were built around this period and look far more attractive than most modern buildings.  Passing the “Axe & Cleaver” pub, St Marks Church, and the village store we soon reached Smithy Lane and the stile into Dunham Park.  After walking along the avenue of Lime trees we came to Dunham Hall the back of which was covered by a massive canopy.  There must have been extensive building works but none of us knew any details.  The old water mill looked in fine condition and again a lot of renovation seems to have been recently completed.

We left the park and walked along another Lime avenue to reach Bollington Mill and the River Bollin.  Crossing the river on the footbridge we walked the few yards up the road and were back at the cars.  After an 8 mile walk we looked forward to a good meal and we were not disappointed.  The food at the “Swan with Two Nicks” was excellent, especially the sandwiches which, with the accompanying chips and salad,  represented really good value.

INDEX PAGE for the THURSDAY GROUP WALKS