Tegg's Nose, Cheshire

The quarry was for millstone grit, Cheshire stone and the long walking trail through Cheshire is called the Gritstone Trail. It was opened in 1978.

We drove up to Tegg's Nose through winding mountain roads and as I drove I could sense myself start to unwind after a hectic time recently. There are so many shades of green that a paint palette couldn't even begin to capture them .

As I approached the car park, I saw this sign. This boded well as I like nothing better than to finish a good walk with a cup of tea.

On the walk the first thing I noticed today was the heather. The purple is always beautiful on the hill side but today the different shades, leaning back and enjoying the warm sun, unusual for North West England, today the shades of heather were just spectacular. Every shade of purple regally vying together for our attention. As you can see the variation of shades in the lovely sunshine and air was just stunning.

Nature just knows how to put shades of colour of together to perfection.

Along the walk, and up the steps, the sheep were grazing peacefully and the steps do make this steep slope very passable for even the most vulnerable walkers.

Whinberries, a delicious, small, wild blueberry grow naturally on Tegg's Nose slopes. They are freely available to forage for and pick and we pick them and make cordials, jams, jellies and pies. 

Many have already been picked but there were still a few thousand left !

Apart from sheep farming on the Nose, it was once also a site of the quarrying industry. Information boards give details of the history and there is a small display of machinery as a tribute to the harsh life and work those men endured. They quarried for Millstone Grit.

There are several reminders of where we are along the way.  The views are just beautiful. Once again the shades of green are soothing and resplendent in the weak sunshine. My favourite viewpoint of all is below, just off the path, a little alcove amongst the trees. In my opinion, this is God's county.

As we approached the top,  these are the sights that met us. I love the cool breeze in my face and blowing my hair. I find it exhilarating and empowering. The air is quite special and taking in great gulps of air is very refreshing. I love the viewing board which tells us what everything is on the skyline.

Spot the heather along the way.

Although not a high climb, the view is stunning from the top. In the far ground the dark Welsh mountains are quite visible. World famous telescope Jodrell bank is also there on the Cheshire Plain in the middle ground.

It is a short climb and well worth it for that view.

Down again and there are more signs of where we are.

Tegg's Nose Tea Rooms opened on Saturday, 4 days ago and guess what ! The owner is actually called Teg. How cool is that ! His name is Tegwyn, a lovely, traditional Welsh name and he has Tegg's Nose Tea Rooms.

Teg himself points out that he is just a one g Teg and not a sheep which had two G's!

These new Tea Rooms are perfect for when a walk is finished. Spotlessly clean and with homemade cakes, my husband said the Chocolate Brownies here are the very best he has ever tasted and we like our afternoon teas in our family. The tea was proper tea too not a Tea bag, proper tea. Teg and Laura are lovely and we hope they do well. They deserve to ! There is a lovely wall display about the area and also a log burning stove for when it is cold.

If you have an opportunity to visit Tegg's Nose then do so. It is a lovely place with walks of all difficulties and grades, the best scenery and a lovely cuppa at the end as a prize for your physical efforts.

I have added the photo above as I saw it today on my day out. I add it because it has a very very old spelling of Macclesfield from when back in the days that "s" was written as an "f " .

This stone must be so old.