29/10/17 - Mow Cop from Congleton

Distance - 9 Miles
Geocaches - 19
Walk Inspiration
Pub - Queens Head, Congleton


Our two Mancunian offspring have been complaining that we don't come up and see them.  Taking advantage of Premier Inn's generous early bird offer, we rectify this position.  On the same weekend they both decide to come back home.

No worries, there are walks to do, CAMRA Good Beer Guide Pubs to tick off and generously, they have agreed to meet us in Manchester, so we can buy them dinner.

Today's walk starts at Congleton Railway station and instantly heads out onto the Macclesfield Canal.  With October's geocaching smiley count looking poor, its fortuitous that there is a Power Trail of more than 100 caches laid along the canal's 15 miles.   We only do around four miles and Mrs M gets bored, leaving me to find what I can in short time frames at many GZs.  She pays for leaving me, as she misses our canal exit point and needs to retrace her steps.  She takes the extra 1/2 mile quite well, all things considered.

Mrs M deciding that finding film pots on canals is not for her

The exit is at the foothills of Mow Cop.  We have a stiff climb up tracks and fields to reach the hamlet of Mow Cop.  The views behind include Jodrell Bank and most of Cheshire.  Stunning day for it.

Cheshire

Mow Cop is where all the action is.  Along with the views, a lunch time bench, we also have the Old Man of Mow and Mow Cop Castle to explore.

Old Man of Mow - left over Quarry Stack

Mow Cop Castle - 1754

A gentle walk downhill, along a vergeless road before we eventually get refuge in Willocks Woods.

Willocks Woods

Fields return us to the outskirts of Congleton, where our 2018 Good Beer Guide Tick awaits.

Queens Head Hotel, Park Lane Congleton, Bass Premium Ale

Queens Head - from the Railway Bridge

Plenty to admire in this solid looking community pub.  I'll start with the monthly Sunday dog walks.  If you partake, you get a discount on their highly recommended Sunday Lunches.

There's two entrances, the main reception and the intriguingly named "Tap Room".  We deboot and enter through this door to a central bar.

And what a choice of beers!  We can only stop for one and I am forced to choose between TT Landlord, Black Sheep and a couple of others.  I eventually plum for the Red Triangle of Bass.

And the Sunday Rags

Stunning walk from www.walkingworld.com again.  Enough to justify this year's subscription.