After our quick visit to Beeston Castle earlier in the year, we joined English Heritage knowing that we would be returning to explore the grounds a bit more carefully. The opportunity arose during the Easter holidays when we attended one of the many events held at the site – we went hunting for dragon eggs!
Earlier this year, we took advantage of some dry sunny weather and went for a day out in Beeston. The plan was to walk from Beeston Castle, around Peckforton Castle to get back to Beeston in time to explore the grounds. A walk around these two towers was something I’d had in mind for a while so I already had a shiny new OS map of the area (any excuse). There is parking outside Beeston Castle (postcode CW6 9TX ) and after going into the castle to pay the fee, and getting a quick bite to eat at the Sandstone Café we found the start of our route.
My blog has just turned one year old! On 5th February 2017, I published my first post. It was about our first proper walk of 2017 – a stroll up Shutlingsloe with the help of some jelly babies. We didn’t make it. Arriving at a wall with a step stile covered in ice, we decided to cut our losses and head back to the car. Shutlingsloe would be there for another day. That day arrived a couple of weeks ago.
A couple of weeks ago, I decided that the walk I had planned for our adventure day wasn’t suitable for me looking after Rowan and the furry woofers on my own (too much on a country road with no pavement). Turned out we were both pretty tired too, so we stayed local and visited Dunham Park.
This week, we decided to take a different look at a place we have visited a few times before. Alderley Edge has many trails to discover and, in the past, we have always explored around the Edge itself. Now Rowan is finding his walking legs, we decided to go a bit further afield and explore the woods and fields in the area.
Last Sunday saw our first chance to get out for a walk this year and so, having walked up Rivington Pike with Rowan last year, we decided to take a stroll up Shutlingsloe near Macclesfield Forest. With rain forecast for around three o’clock, we made sure we packed waterproofs along with our picnic lunch, but even walking at little legs pace, we expected to be back from our just over three mile adventure before the rain.
Exploring the Landscape 