Walking in Cheshire

Those who don't really know Cheshire are likely to think only of rich crumbly cheese, produced by large numbers of docile cows, contentedly munching the lush green pasture on an extensive plain alongside the M6, somewhere to the south of the Thelwall Viaduct, between the hills of the Peak District and the Welsh border, pleasant enough countryside but hardly of interest to country walkers.

In fact, that commonly held view is a long way from the real truth. Yes. there is a Cheshire Plain and yes. Cheshire cheese is a popular product of that plain. But, the east of the county extends well into those Peak District hills, with peaks such as Shuttlingsloe and Kerridge of surprising height and steepness. The Gritstone Trail, thirty-five miles from Disley to Kidsgrove, crosses this area from north to south, wholly within Cheshire.

The second surprise comes a fair way further to the west, some distance across that Cheshire Plain. A ridge of sandstone extending from the valley of the River Mersey in the north to the southern boundary of the county, near Whitchurch, has a series of high outcrops, several of them crowned with iron age and more recent fortifications, providing very attractive walking. The Sandstone Trail, thirty-four miles from Frodsham to Whitchurch, follows this ridge from end to end, with sections which can challenge even experienced walkers.

In crude terms, the county can be divided into these three quite different elements; add the charms of the Wirral Peninsula to this diversity and a good case can be made for arguing that Cheshire is, despite the comparative neglect, one of our best walking counties.

Those seeking less demanding walking routes are particularly well served. Canal towpaths, with historic and engineering features, locks and bridges, are particularly good. In the north is the oldest of them all, the Bridgewater Canal, whilst further to the south, the Trent and Mersey, the Macclesfield, the Shropshire Union, both main line and the branches to Llangollen and Middewich, provide a network of opportunity for walkers. Likewise, Cheshire has an excellent record of converting disused railway lines into managed trails for horse-riders, cyclists and walkers, providing 'linear nature reserves' to be enjoyed by walkers of a wide range of capability. The Bidston Way, the Whitegate Way, the Wheelock Way, the Salt Way, the Middlewood Way and the Mow Cop Trail are all appealing routes, some of them combining well with canal towpaths to form circuits.

At the heart of Cheshire are the former 'salt towns' - Northwich, Middlewich and Winsford, - not all that many years ago a 'no go' area for walkers (and most other visitors!). Salt extraction on a large scale and other associated industries dominated a wide area. The demise of the salt industry resulted in a major problem of industrial dereliction. Transformation of much of this land into country parks with visitor facilities has provided some surprisingly attractive walking routes, that at Marbury, Northwich being an outstanding example.

In fact, it has to be said that the Cheshire County Council Countryside Management Service does an excellent job, with other notable country parks at Tegg's Nose, Macclesfield Forest, Brereton Heath and Little Budworth, together with the former railway lines, among its responsibilities. Visitor centres, picnic areas and, of course the provision and maintenance of walking routes are all included in the management service.
On an even larger scale, the Forestry Commission has long encouraged visitors to Delamere Forest, with a comprehensive visitor centre and several waymarked trails through the forest. Last but by no means least, Cheshire is also an area of stately homes, several with extensive parkland accessible by walkers. Those who like hill country will prefer Lyme Park, in the Peak District foothills, whilst on more level ground, both Tatton Park near Knutsford and the land around Quarry Bank Mill at Styal include excellent routes.

The inevitable conclusion is that Cheshire is seriously under-rated and that few walkers are likely to regret spending time discovering this most alluring area for themselves

Back