Sandstone Trail Walker’s Guide A 55km / 34 mile trail from Frodsham to Whitchurch Sandstone Trail Walkers’ Guide A 55km/34mile trail from Frodsham to Whitchurch. Stride out along the Sandstone Trail and sample some of the finest walking in Cheshire. Follow the ridge of sandstone that rises dramatically from the Cheshire plain and enjoy this invigorating walk at any time of year. This is rural Cheshire at its best, quiet and sleepy at times yet steeped in history and rich in wildlife. Helsby Hill seen from Woodhouse hill Evidence of early settlers abounds in the hill forts and burial mounds along the ridge while the Trail Walking the Trail over 2 or 3 days gives a real crosses a Roman road and meanders through the impression of scale of the county and a sense medieval hunting forest of Mara and Mondrum, of achievement but please don’t rush it, take today well known as Delamere Forest. time to soak up the atmosphere and savour the delights of rural Cheshire. The Trail is split The area around Delamere is home to several fruit into six sections in this guide so you can farms which grow many varieties of apples as well combine 2 or 3 sections if you wish. as rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries and other soft fruit. Also included in this guide are 2 circular walks for you to try - one above Frodsham and one The well-wooded Peckforton Hills stand proud of around Rawhead. the Cheshire Plain with Beeston Castle commanding panoramas of eight counties. The estate woodlands are primarily managed for The Sandstone Trail was one of the first pheasant rearing while Bickerton Hill, owned by promoted routes in the country, the National Trust, is managed for nature pioneered by Cheshire County Council’s conservation to protect and improve the heathland. Countryside Recreation Department. South of the Larkton Hill the land is more suited to The original Trail, opened in 1974, was dairy farming, producing milk for the famous just 16 miles long from Delamere to Cheshire cheese and some fabulous ice cream. Duckington. Soon it was extended up to Old St Chad’s Chapel is a real gem while the final Beacon Hill in the north and Grindley section of the Trail takes you along the Llangollen Brook in the south. In the late 1990s Canal, a relaxing and enjoyable walk at any time links were added to Frodsham and of year. Whitchurch to make it more accessible If you’ve not walked the Sandstone Trail before you’re by public transport and so walkers could in for a real treat while if it has been a while we are enjoy some well earned refreshment. sure you will have forgotten how stunning it is. 2 Route Section Frodsham 1 Frodsham 6 M5 A5 Helsby Route Section Kingsley 117 Barnsbridge Alvanley Gates, Delamere Manley Hatchmere A56 2 Delamere Mouldsworth Forest Park 6 5 Ashton Hayes A5 Kelsall A54 A54 A51 Route Section Tarvin John Street 3 Willington Duddon A5 1 5km A49 S h r Llangollen Canal at Grindley Brook op sh Tarporley ir e Huxley Un ion Canal A4 1 Tiverton Route Section Key to maps Beeston Beeston 4 A5 Tattenhall Castle 1 Castle Forestry A49 A49 Mast Bunbury Commission Burwardsley Peckforton National Slopes Trust Broxton Bulkeley A534 Woodland Public House Route Section 5 Bickerton Trust No Man’s A534 Heath Parking Cholmondeley P Refreshments Castle Information Church A4 Sign 1 Picnic Site No Mans 6 Heath Wrenbury Malpas Route Section A49 A49 Sandstone Trails Whitchurch Circular Trails Footpaths Motorways Major roads Whitchurch Other roads 7 Route Section Minor roads A525 A Jubilee Park 41 Railway Line Based upon Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Rivers, Lakes & Canals Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationary Office © Crown copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to Woodland prosecution or civil proceedings, Cheshire West and Chester Council: LA 100040296.2009 3 F r odsham t 1. Frodsham to Barnsbridge Gates, Delamere Distance: 71/2 miles Allow: 3-4 hours o Barnsbridge The Trail begins in the bustling market town of Frodsham with individual shops and interesting places to eat. Soon you climb above the town where the views over the Mersey Estuary are spectacular. Much of this section of the Trail meanders around outcrops of sandstone through pleasant birch and oak woodland. Gat es, Delamer 1 Start outside the Bear’s Paw pub in the centre of Frodsham. Walk up Church Street and turn right up a public footpath signed Sandstone Trail. e Cross into Bellemonte Road opposite, then take Middle Walk on the right into the woods. Bear left and zigzag uphill to reach the War Memorial. 2 Follow the waymarks along the edge of the hill and down Baker's Dozen steps into Dunsdale Hollow. Go up the steps cut into the rock, along the side of the golf course and continue along several woodland paths and then down the hollow track below Snidley Moor to The Ridgeway. 3 Turn left, then right up the steps into Ridgeway Wood. Cross the brook then follow the field edges to Commonside. Jacob's Ladder, Frodsham 4 Go through the kissing gate opposite and through the fields below Alvanley Cliff to the road at Yarangall Green. 5 Cross over and go through two small fields to Manley Road. 6 Turn right, then left at the T-junction, along the pavement of the main road, B5393. 7 Turn left through a kissing gate opposite Pingot Lane and follow the field edges to New Pale Road. 8 Turn left and follow the lane to the corner. Take the open track straight ahead into Delamere Forest Park. Continue on forest tracks and paths to Ashton Road and Barnsbridge Gates car park. Frodsham 4 F r odsham t START POINT 1 Station 6 N M5 o Barnsbridge Frodsham War Memorial 2 6 A5 Beacon Hill Gat P Car Park es, Delamer 3 S im o 539 n B s L an Dunsdale e B5 Hollow 15 2 e Woodhouse Hill Fort d oa R y e l S n andst a Snidley T M r Moor ail Wood one 3 R idg ew ay C omm ons ide 4 Alvanley Cliff 5 6 Simmond’s B5 Hill 3 9 3 ingot L P ane Stone House Farm Manley 7 P Common 8 Manley Delamere Forest Park Barnsbridge 9 Gates P 0 500 1.0 1.6 km 1 mile 5 F r odsham t A steep climb from Frodsham town centre up to the War Memorial is The Woodland Trust rewarded with impressive views The Woodland Trust own just overlooking the Mersey Estuary to the under 55ha of land from o distinctive Liverpool skyline beyond. This Overton Hill through Barnsbridge is a popular spot for people to watch the Woodhouse Hill to Snidley Moor. The woodland planes take off and land at Liverpool contains an ancient iron age hill fort which is one of airport while down below the rich birdlife six hilllforts along the sandstone ridge. Work on of the estuary attracts bird watchers from preserving the ramparts of this archaeological feature far afield. is being carried out over the next few years. The Gat From the top of the hill the Trail skirts a pathways that criss-cross the site take you past some es, Delamer series of sandstone outcrops. Birch and fantastic geological features and lead to a number of oak woodland cloth the steep slopes, breathtaking views. carpeted with ferns and bluebells in the Some of the woodland across this escarpment is spring. Once the path dropped into ancient semi-natural woodland. It is predominantly birch with scattered oak, rowan, holly and hawthorn. e Dunsdale Hollow down Jacob’s Ladder, a steep staircase carved into the rock, Path improvement projects and rhododendron but today there is a much safer route removal will improve both access and biodiversity down Baker’s Dozen, named after Jack across the site. Baker who was instrumental in devising The Trust is also trialling a number of play and art theTrail. projects across the site particularly on Snidley Moor Look out for the remains of Woodhouse and the newly planted part of Woodhouse Hill. These Hill Fort, the most northerly of 6 forts will provide opportunities for exploration and along the sandstone ridge. The trees discovery so look out for various unusual installations! would have been much easier to clear To find out more please phone 01476 581111 or from the ridge than from the plain below visit our website at www.woodland/trust.org.uk. and several Iron Age families would have lived in huts within the fort, built to take advantage of the commanding views. Habitats and Hillforts Snidley Moor Wood is one of several along the Trail now managed by The The Habitats and Hillforts of Woodland Trust. Volunteers clear some of Cheshire’s Sandstone Ridge is the rhododendron each winter and an exciting new Landscape replant the banks with oak and other Partnership Scheme which will help to: native trees. • increase understanding and conserve the natural and historic heritage of the Ridge The Trail follows the edge of the woodland • improve people’s awareness and appreciation of on Alvanley Cliff. Several quarries are its special assets nearby, including one which produced particularly fine sandstone used to rebuild • provide opportunities for people to access and Chester Castle and Eaton Hall. Potatoes enjoy its heritage. are traditionally grown in this area which The Project will focus on the areas surrounding the six is handy for local markets. Iron Age hillforts stretching along 25km of the After a short walk along the road the Trail Sandstone Ridge.