Everyone knows that squirrels love nuts, but the grey squirrels that live by Lymm Dam near Altrincham like bananas too. They are quite tame and as we ate our picnic they formed a circle round us, boldly darting in for a share. Then leaving the lake, where moorhens, coots and mallards were busy, we continued beside the Duke of Bridgewater's Canal. Stately irises fringed the water and a solitary heron stood motionless, heedless of a passing barge. But on a hot sunny afternoon we were glad of the shade along the bridlepath, where pink dog roses and red campion brightened the hedgerow.
LOCATION: Five miles west of Altrincham
START: Roadside parking on A56 by Lymm Dam Grid ref: SJ681869 Postcode: DL8 3SG
DISTANCE: 4.5 miles
GRADE: Easy
TIME: 2.5 hours
MAP: Landranger 109
REFRESHMENTS: Lymm
EN ROUTE: Spud Wood
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News