Cows, Cults and A Classified Cake Recipe

It was a rainy start to the day, and for a while we suspected the weather forecast had been written by someone with a vendetta against walkers. Fortunately, the skies eventually behaved themselves and the rain eased, allowing us to set off from Rode Heath, with Charlie very kindly offering his drive as our car park for the day.

The route was a lengthy but less undulating affair than our usual escapades, taking us through a patchwork of town, fields and open countryside, with a climb to Prospect Hill providing splendid views across the Cheshire Plain. We followed sections of the Cheshire Plain and South Cheshire Way, looping back through Alsager before returning to Rode Heath.

After weeks of heatwave and drought, it was quite a treat to encounter puddles. Doubtless, that enthusiasm will evaporate like a rain cloud over the next few weeks.

Wildlife was plentiful too: a buzzard circling ominously overhead (hopefully not assessing the group for weaknesses), badger setts, and particularly zippy squirrels who appeared to have taken on the role of unofficial pace-setters at times.

We also passed the house of Denise Coates of Bet365 fame. Its entrance had the welcoming charm of a religious cult headquarters, and one of us decided to wave enthusiastically at the security cameras.,,,,twice Somewhere, undoubtedly, a security debrief is still trying to establish the threat level posed by a group of walkers armed with walking poles and questionable humour.

It was lovely, too, to encounter plenty of other people. We are often wandering through the wilds, seeing little more than livestock and each other, so the friendly smiles, hellos and general goodwill of fellow walkers and locals made a refreshing change.

A lovely walk, lovely company and a wonderfully appropriate way to celebrate Charlie’s belated birthday.