Sunday 27th February 2011 - Ellesmere, Cheshire

On Sunday, 27 February, our walks and Hot Pot Supper are based at Ellesmere in Shropshire

The coach will leave school as usual at 8.00 am prompt.  There will be no toilet stop before Ellesmere on the outward journey.  The ‘A’ Party will leave the coach 3mls before Ellesmere so please have your boots on and rucsac in the coach with you for a quick exit .
All other walks start and finish at Ellesmere where there are toilet facilities and the Hot Pot Supper in the Red Lion on completion of the walks
We aim to leave for the return journey at 6.45pm and weather and traffic permitting, we hope to be back in Formby at approx 8.30pm

‘A’ Walk Distance: 13 miles Ascent: 500 ft Leaders: John Roberts Edwina Roberts	Leaving the bus on the  A528  just south of Knolton  we head east  joining the Llwybr Maelor Way at Penley Mill. Penley itself has a fascinating Polish history which we contemplate before continuing along the Way to equally interesting Hanmer. We then head south past Hanmer Mere towards Welshampton  and join the Llangollen Canal which we follow into Ellesmere for a well earned pint and Hot Pot. A pleasant stroll in the paths and lanes of the borders with some unexpected international connections in the buildings.
‘B+’ Walk Distance: 10½ miles Ascent: 200 ft Leaders: Jane Fowler Andy Fowler	We start by skirting the south west edge of the Mere and then head north past Haughton Farm on the track (avoiding the very muddy fields) onwards to Sandyhill and into Spout Wood.  Wandering through the coniferous woodland we head to the Coppice and then Mill Wood before turning south across fields.  We continue through the tunnel under the discontinued railway track into the little village of Welshampton.  Passing the church we continue on tracks until turning west to traverse fields before dropping south to meet the edge of Cole Mere and the canal towpath.  We continue along the towpath, around Blake Mere and back into Ellesmere.  A relatively large number of stiles and kissing gates need to be actioned, and prepare for some occasional muddy patches.
‘B’ Walk Distance: 9½ miles Ascent: 350 ft Leaders: David Wake Alan Thomas	From the coach we head off through woodland along the northern edge of the Mere before turning east across fields to Welshampton. We walk through the village and then take access tracks, fields and minor roads before joining the Shropshire Union Canal at Clapping Gate Bridge at Bettisfield. The canal towpath takes us back to Ellesmere via Hampton Bank, Lyneal Moss, Cole Mere, Blake Mere and a marina.
‘C’ Walk Distance: 7 miles Ascent: 350 ft Leaders: David Turton Steve Wright	From the coach we head for the Shropshire Union Canal and follow this through the Ellesmere Tunnel (There is a way round for anyone who does not want to walk through the tunnel) and along the tow path passed Blake Mere We then leave the canal and follow the edge of Cole Mere to Colemere Country Heritage site and Yell Wood where we rejoin the canal tow path for a short stretch before taking a minor road to Welshampton. From here we take field paths to the Mere and then join a path through woodland by the edge of the Mere to Cremorne Gardens and then back to the coach.