Once across the golf course we crossed to the Silverdale Country Park and then across to Apedale, where we'd find the Heritage Centre cafe.
XMAS SQWALK 2021 WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29TH
Keele to Apedale via Silverdale Country Park, and return. Approx 7.5/9 miles (See route at the end of the notes)
Mince pies were eventually provided. Mothy discovered a new use for his mask, so he could take his mince pie home..
Hope you enjoyed the walk. It was expected to be around 7.5 miles but somehow ended up being nearer 9 miles. Must have been the wind?
Happy New Year
Yuppers
(enjoy yer wheels)
Brolly and The Royall Janet played hide and seek behind the timber sleepers, but we spotted them. If you look closely you might spot Yuppers through one of them.....
Out of the campus we entered the abandoned golf course. It was increasingly soggy as we descended to the lower end where Mrs Yupmeister misjudged a small stream and ended up with a soggy boot.
Not averse to getting wet she’d accompanied Yup on a few reckies during the run up to the actual walk, once in ankle deep water and once in knee high mud. However on one of those she’d worn her best sketchers and with hand on heart I can confirm she never complained once………
Up for it were around 32 walking adults, 2 children and 4 dogs-
Yupmeister (Dave), Mrs Yupmeister (Barb), Zollette, Marcus, Anytime Tone, Anytime Chris, Sometime Helen, Ann Marie, Pedro, Mothy (Tim), Nails, The Royall Janet, Brolly (The Royall Mark), Hecky Thump, Flick it (Tom Flacket), Turk, Turkish, Scott and Oliver, Andy and Ben, Jacko, Goosey (Phil), DCeen, McCeen, Jodie. , Duke of the Darkside (John), Duchess of the Darkside (Paula), Tom (Duncs mate), Dunc (Tom’s mate), Where’s Brolly (Matt Royall) and Where’s Charlotte, Digger, Diggeroo (Angela)
Dogs-
Poppy, Alfie, Billy, Ras
Non-walkers who attended for the meals and catching up were-
Jane C, Margy, Janet (Mo’s mate), Mo (Janet’s mate), Rose
Absentees-
Unfortunately Heavy failed to make it due to an achilles’ tendon injury; Steve n Sue didn’t want to get wet; Keithee was understandably still concerned about the current Covid situation; Josh changed his mind and Emily sprained her back.
'Better than a Turkish Kebab', said Tony.....
A short steep pull up to the pit wheel ensued where we caught our breath and admired the views.
(A piece of history - Apedale's pit wheel was erected in 2004 as a memorial dedicated to mine workers in Staffordshire. The land here was an opencast mine as recently as 1998 and has since been landscaped to become Apedale Country Park. The wheel was bought for £100 and originated from Annesley Colliery in Nottinghamshire. It took 3 lorries and assistance from the Territorial Army to transport it to Apedale).
As we gathered by the miners feature overlooking the lake below a few took the opportunity to look at the trig point and the abandoned nuclear monitoring bunker (in use between the 1950’s and 1990 approx).
Continuing over the Keele bypass we entered the village and on into the Keele campus, trying to keep up with Marcus and Where’s Brolly. A minor detour around the rear gardens of Keele Hall took us nicely as planned to the KPA at 2pm.
We were seated downstairs spread out over 2 rooms. The 2 ales on tap were at an end but they were soon replaced with Osset breweries Gold and a bitter. Jacko unfortunately had to leave early and forgo his lunch.
Jules and Charlotte of the KPA had been instrumental in providing a large hot and cold buffet upstairs at a tenner a head. Yuppers managed the climb to get served first. A miracle indeed. (getting served first, not managing the climb😂)
It was great to see so many smiling faces on the car park as the rain and wind lifted bang on time.
Lateral Flow Tests had understandably been requested by the KPA and thankfully we were all clear to meet up. 2 days ago we weren’t sure if we could go ahead with this walk but thanks to Boris we got the go ahead.
Thanks also to the parking attendants who weren’t working over Xmas and ensured that the parking was free.
We set off bang on time but then there was the inevitable toilet stop at the students Union and a group photo..
The organisation at the cafe, where all the workers are volunteers, was superb. There were oatcakes and cups of tea flying out of the kitchen like there was no tomorrow. Yuppers’s butty was last of course but well worth the wait.
Amazingly we were all fed and watered by 12, ready for the second half of the walk.
Margy, Janet and Mo who had arrived by car at the cafe opted out of the remaining half of the walk and stayed behind for a catch up. Rose who was waiting for a foot op also opted for a catch up with Mrs Yupmeister.
We then crossed the road to the Silverdale Park, taking on board Brolly’s top suggestion of a small diversion to avoid another damp field.
From here we walked around the lake, stopping briefly for Jodie to get topped up, out of the park and up Pepper Street. At the lower junction some may have spotted the circus feature erected to commemorate the circus owner and inventor Philip Astley.
