New Year walk, Alderley Edge, Sun 4th Jan

As is our custom, we eased ourselves into the new year with a countryside stroll rather than a workday. 15 of us had clearly been overdoing it enough at Christmas to feel the need to get out.

The mud very quickly saw three people decide that lunch in the pub was a preferable option, but the rest of us enjoyed beautiful winter sunshine and hazy views over the Cheshire plain.

As we approached the woods around the Edge, we detoured from my planned route, as Tim promised us a lovely waterfall. As usual, Tim was right, although suggestions that the men should take a quick plunge underneath the cascade went unheeded.

Back at the car park, the planned nip into the Wizard was scuppered by the fact that it was standing room only, and there was a delay on getting served, so a few headed off for coffee at Philippa's while the rest of us went home to warm up.