After a long absence the blog has been resuscitated following a return visit to the Blue Bell pub at Kidsgrove.

We caught the bus to Wheelock, a small village on the Trent & Mersey canal; however we started the walk on the Wheelock Rail Trail, a former railway line that has been made into a well maintained footpath. Although short, it is well-drained and sure underfoot, and the trees provide homes for a multitude of birds filling the air with their song - not least a skylark!! Two large buzzards also circled above.

Shortly we met up with the canal on the stretch known to boaters as Heartbreak Hill because of the series of 26 locks that raise the level 250 feet in the 7 miles to Kidsgrove. The route offers spectacular views across Cheshire to the Peckforton Hills on one side and Congleton Edge and Mow Cop on the other. There are few buildings to distract and the locks have a fascination all their own.

We managed to resist the temptation of The Romping Donkey and stopped for a butty break about half-way, before heading again towards Kidsgrove passing close to the charming Lawton church where 11 men were once killed by a flash of lightning.

At Kidsgrove we had time for some real ale in the wonderful Blue Bell pub, an old building of two cottages knocked together. They sell real ale generally from micro-breweries and foreign lagers (i.e. not gassy chemical concoctions) and have a very informative website at http://www.bluebellkidsgrove.co.uk/index.html. We then headed off for the return journey on the train.

A great day out.