7th January -- Styal, Cheshire
Wow! another great day out in Styal, a perfect winters day weather wise, not a cloud in the sky all day, hardly any wind, a lot of the mud frozen hard. The venue chosen ideal for winter walking, and with a fairly short coach journey. The Ship Inn, an excellent country pub even if a bit crowded and the tea rooms opposite also proved popular.

The A walk dropped off in Knutsford and started with a clockwise circuit of Tatton Park then headed Eastwards to join the Cheshire Way past the end of Manchester airport and along the River Bollin to Styal
Heading north
Tatton House
Cake! taken in the stable yard
Past the war memorial and the Deer Park
and back down the other side of the lake
Plane spotter's paradise!
Headwind!

The B walk started in
Styal village and headed westwards into the wooded valley
of the River Bollin Wintry foliage..
....and lingering autumn leaves Crossing and re-crossing the river made for more climbing than expected!
More frosty foliage..
..signs of Spring too
Lunch was taken by Black Lake on Lindow Common
Returning by way of Pownall Park back to The River Bollin
Past Styal mill and back to Styal village

Photos by Derek Hesketh and John Hodgson