Cheshire Sandstone Ridge Into the Trees “Peace, panoramic views, heathland and John Wedgewood preached beneath a nearby oak, in October 1822. A circular walk around Continue straight ahead, on a path that winds through the wildlife — Maiden Castle has it all. This is heather. (Ignore the Sandstone Trail, which plunges down Onto the Hills the steep slope to the right here). Less than 200 metres my special patch of heaven.” Maiden Castle, Turn right, opposite the church, down a drive signposted across the plateau, go through a wooden gate into open as a footpath. The waymarked track kinks sharply right, birch woods, and bear immediately right on a well-used Dave Morris, former National Trust warden, Bickerton Hill then left, between tall hedges. Over a stile, the path opens path beneath the trees. When the path reaches the edge Bickerton into sloping fields. Walk uphill, keeping close to the left- of the slope, follow it around to the left to rise and fall hand fence, and go through the kissing gate at the base of past sandstone outcrops jutting from the hill. The path Bickerton Hill. Immediately ahead here is a slab of curiously drops obliquely across the wooded slopes, flanked by When the path rejoins the Sandstone Trail at the foot of the marked sandstone known as The Slars . Five smooth, ivy-festooned crags. slope, bear right and follow the path until it opens into a scoop- parallel vertical grooves are clear in the sloping bedrock. Some shaped field above the National Trust‘s Duckington car park. Before the rocks end, suggest they were formed during the Ice Age; but sandstone Turn right, gently uphill through the grassy valley. Go through turn sharp right, is easily eroded and they’re more probably the result of an the waymarked gate at the top of the slope and continue downhill on a tree-trunk unknown Victorian local industry. uphill to a natural saddle marked by a wooden Sandstone Trail edged path that angles fingerpost. Follow the path around the top of the Slars, and climb back across the slope. the heather-clad scarp. Back on the top, bear right at a To either side is Hether Turn left here, and climb the short slope to the top of waymarker post and head for a wooden Sandstone Trail Wood , a mixed Cuckoo Rock . Celtic folklore is rich in cuckoo references, fingerpost at the head of Pool Lane. Now turn left, gently woodland dominated and ‘Cuckoo Rocks’ occur across Britain. ‘Cuckoo’ means uphill on a sunken sandy track signposted to ‘Rawhead’ and by mature oaks with both the herald of spring and a fool or dolt — as in April Fool’s ‘Beeston’. At the top of the slope, turn left again to reach occasional holly, rowan Day, the traditional day the first cuckoo calls. a natural sandstone and birch. Recognised as platform and viewpoint a Local Wildlife Site, it’s Bear right at the summit, and follow the broad curving path dominated by a home to badgers, bats gently downhill through a mosaic of heather and bilberry. memorial called and bluebells, as well When the path forks beneath a power line, continue straight Kitty’s Stone . A as tawny owls, greater ahead, down into the trees. generous donation spotted woodpeckers, Quiet Lanes by Kitty’s bereaved redstarts, and pied husband helped the Heathland Reptiles flycatchers. Turn right at the next T-junction, and follow the waymarked National Trust acquire Common lizards can sometimes be path down to a gate leading onto a rough access track. the northern end of spotted basking in the sun on Bickerton Hill Beyond a field and house, the track emerges on tarmaced Bickerton Hill, in 1991. Sandy Lane. Within 100 metres, turn right again, into a This leaflet was originally produced as part of the Habitats & Hillforts Project signposted bridleway opposite a small house, and then almost The path traces the (2008-12) with the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. immediately left into Lower Sandy Lane . In spring, the edge to enter open To learn more about the work of the Sandstone Ridge Trust and its partners, visit hedge banks here are bright with celandine, self heal, and wild birch woods again. www.thesandstoneridgetrust.co.uk forget-me-nots, followed by stately foxgloves in late summer. Bear right here, away For other walks, visit from the edge, back At the junction with Brown Knowl Lane, bear right, downhill www.sandstonetrail.com towards the top of towards Brown Knowl Methodist Church . Rural Cheshire Concept and text: Tony Bowerman Illustrations: Kim Atkinson Pool Dale. To the left is Rock Art? Map: Carl Rogers Design: William Smuts has a strong non-conformist tradition, and the church replaces the recently purchased These curious parallel grooves in the rock are a chapel begun soon after the charismatic Methodist leader known locally as the Slars ‘Ten Acre Field’ A series of other guides is available. Look out for four walks Copyright © Cheshire West & Chester 2010. All rights reserved. leaflets, four habitat leaflets, and six hillfort leaflets. Printed on 100% recycled paper Discover the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge on foot Start: Pool Lane National Trust car park (free), off Goldford Lane steps. Now part of the popular 34-mile/55 kilometre-long Around Bickerton Hill and Brown Knowl (opposite Pool Farm), Bickerton SY14 8LN. Map ref: SJ 503530 Sandstone Trail, the waymarked path traces the lip of the Distance: 5 kilometres/3 miles scarp before climbing a second, shallower set of steps to a viewpoint with a rustic log bench. A pleasant and varied circuit exploring the heathery hills around Difficulty: Easy-Medium. Iron Age Hillfort Maiden Castle hillfort Duration: Allow 2 – 2½ hours Map: OS 1:25,000 Explorer 257 Crewe & Nantwich The path rises again to cross the eroded double ramparts of THIS SHORT BUT SPECTACULAR CIRCUIT explores the very best of arguably the finest section Maiden Castle hillfort , dominating the crown of the hill. of the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge. Ascend through purple heather and bilberries to the ramparts of Dogs: Bickerton Hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and dogs Built in phases between 900 and 400 BC, this prehistoric should be kept on a lead between March 1st and July 31st to protect hilltop enclosure was defended by the steep natural Maiden Castle hillfort. Admire stunning views across the Dee Valley to the Welsh hills, drop down ground nesting birds, reptiles and invertebrates. Please consider other escarpment to the west, with twin, drystone wall-faced earth through open birch woods, then circle back through sandy lanes via the picturesque settlement of walkers and clean up after your dog. and timber-laced ramparts protecting the gently sloping Brown Knowl. ground to the south and east. STARTING FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST’S POOL LANE CAR From the lofty interior of the hillfort, panoramic views PARK, go through the wooden gate at the top of the parking look westwards across the Dee valley to the Welsh hills. To area and head gently uphill on a broad sandy track. The open the north is Rawhead, the highest point on the sandstone BROWN KNOWL areas of lowland heath beside the path are typical of others ridge, with Shropshire’s Caer Caradoc, Lawley, and Long being carefully restored across Bickerton Hill. Characterised Mynd faint on the southern horizon. by heather and bilberries interspersed with yellow gorse and At the southern end of the hilltop enclosure, re-cross the LOWER SANDY LANE broom, this increasingly rare habitat supports a wealth of wildlife R ancient defences and drop down steps to an illustrated E including common lizards, adders, slowworms, glow-worms, D A D A I National Trust interpretation panel explaining the significance N and green hairstreak butterflies. O Cuckoo G R of the hillfort and surrounding heath. H R Rock O C O When the track forks, 250 metres later, just before the crest of A M O The Slars C L the slope, bear left on a broad sandy path. At the next crossing Commanding Views A D N L E of paths, continue straight ahead up a flight of sandstone The distant Clwydian hills span the horizon across the Dee valley O Kitty’s Hether Stone Wood MAIDEN CASTLE Mad Allen’s Hole HILLFORT Pool Lane BICKERTON HILL To Tattenhall GOLDFORD LANE Survey mapping with permission Based upon Ordnance Stationery Office. of Her Majesty’s of the controller Copyright Licence No. 100049046 – 2011 Crown Timeline To Nantwich c. 280-250 MYA c. 900-400 BC 1600s 1742 1770s onwards 1835 1934-35 1939-95 1950s 1970s 1979 1983 1991 2010 Bickerton Hill Maiden Castle hilltop Sandstone quarried Land around Maiden Lovesick John Harris First Brown Knowl Excavations at Maiden Maiden Castle area Birch and bracken Bickerton Hill used for Bickerton Hill National Trust Further 48 hectares/120 Work begins to sandstones formed enclosure used for from scarp slope and Castle reclaimed for of Handley lives as a Methodist chapel built; Castle uncover an used as an army invade long-established motorised hill climbs designated a Site bequeathed 68.5 acres on Bickerton Hill restore ’10 Acre Field’ during Triassic Period seasonal gatherings? interior at Maiden agriculture under the hermit in Mad Allen’s replaced by current inturned entrance with training ground and heathland on the hills and motocross events of Special Scientific hectares/170 acres on acquired by National to heathland Castle Enclosure Act Hole church in 1913 possible guard firing range after grazing by sheep Interest (SSSI) Larkton Hill Trust; Kitty’s Stone chambers and cattle ends erected.