The Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society

Waymarked Walks in Central Cheshire

Congleton

Sandbach Mow Cop

Biddulph Crewe Scholar Green

Nantwich Kidsgrove

Stoke on Trent

Grindley Brook Audlem

Whitchurch

THE SOUTH CHESHIRE WAY

From Grindley Brook to Mow Cop

A 55km (34 mile) walk in the Cheshire countryside. CONTENTS

Page

About the South Cheshire Way 3

Using this guide (including online map links) 6

Points of interest 9

Walking eastwards 15 Grindley Brook to Marbury Big Mere 16 Marbury Big Mere to Aston Village 20 Aston Village to River Weaver 23 River Weaver to A51 by Lea Forge 25 A51 by Lea Forge to Weston Church 28 Weston Church to Haslington Hall 32 Haslington Hall to Thurlwood 36 Thurlwood to Little Moreton Hall (A34) 40 Little Moreton Hall (A34) to Mow Cop 42

Walking westwards 44 Mow Cop to Little Moreton Hall (A34) 46 Little Moreton Hall (A34) to Thurlwood 48 Thurlwood to Haslington Hall 50 Haslington Hall to Weston Church 54 Weston Church to A51 by Lea Forge 58 A51 by Lea Forge to River Weaver 62 River Weaver to Aston Village 65 Aston Village to Marbury Big Mere 68 Marbury Big Mere to Grindley Brook 72

Update information (Please read before walking) 76

About The Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society 77

South Cheshire Way Page 2 of 77 ABOUT THE SOUTH CHESHIRE WAY

The South Cheshire Way was originally conceived as a route in the late 1970's by Jack Baker, a keen supporter of Public Rights of Way and the founder of 'The Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society'. The project was passed to three Society members, Janet Clarke, Justin McCarthy and Brenda Passey, to develop detail planning and establish the route on the ground, prior to its official opening by civic dignitaries on 17 September 1988.

The route It is the second longest of the Society's long distance 'sponsored' walks through the Cheshire countryside, being some 55 kilometres in length. Running between Grindley Brook (SY13 4QJ), just north of Whitchurch, Shropshire in the west and Mow Cop (ST7 3PA) on the Staffordshire border at its eastern end, the route goes close to, but avoids the main towns in the area allowing it to pass through some of Cheshire's best walking country. The map on the front page illustrates the location of near towns and villages.

The South Cheshire Way is shown on OS 25K maps as a trail using the green diamond symbol on the usual green lines.

The trail name is written along the footpath symbol at various intervals. Walkers are advised to take particular care where this way joins other trails marked with the diamond symbol as you could end up walking on a different trail.

Walkers should be aware that whilst the MCFS frequently replaces the yellow waymark discs, these and finger posts do go missing from time to time. Since this booklet was last revised, stiles may have been replaced by kissing gates or gaps in the hedge and hedges may have been removed. Although farmers are obliged to reinstate footpaths crossing their fields, sometimes this does not happen and routes can become obscure particularly in late summer. You should always endeavour to keep to the path even if it is through a crop.

South Cheshire Way Page 3 of 77 Links with other footpaths THE MID-CHESHIRE FOOTPATH SOCIETY There are excellent links with other long distance footpaths at either end. At Grindley Brook there are links with the 'Shropshire Way', the 'Bishop The Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society was formed in 1961 for all those interested in Bennet Bridleway', the 'Sandstone Trail', the 'Maelor Way' and the (now keeping open and well-marked the footpaths in that part of Cheshire not covered by unsupported) 'Marches Way'. existing societies. Its area is bounded by Lymm, Runcorn, Middlewich, Crewe, At Mow Cop, there are links with the 'Gritstone Trail' and thence to the Audlem, Malpas and Chester. 'Staffordshire Way', which together provide a waymarked route from Disley, near Stockport, to Kinver Edge, near Stourbridge. The 'Staffordshire The Society organises walks throughout the year on Wednesdays and alternate Moorlands Walk' and the 'Cheshire Ring Canal Walk' are also close-by, the Sundays, covering as many different areas as possible. The purpose of these walks, latter having a common route for 4.2 km. which are generally between five and eight miles long, is to inspect, and subsequently South-east of Crewe it also shares a common route with the 'Crewe and report on, the condition of the paths, to the local authority responsible for the Nantwich Circular Walk'. maintenance of public rights of way. Getting there by rail There are rail stations at Whitchurch, Wrenbury, Crewe and Kidsgrove. All but Publications available from the Society... Wrenbury require a short bus or taxi ride to join the trail. The Baker Way from Chester to Delamere Stations 21 km Getting there by bus There are bus services which will get you to or near to various points along The Delamere Way from Frodsham to Stockton Heath 34 km the trail but the timetable will need to be checked. The Eddisbury Way from Frodsham to Higher Burwardsley 27 km Car parking The Longster Trail from Helsby Hill to Chester 19 km There are many parking locations along the route and many public houses will usually provide parking if asked. The North Cheshire Way from Hooton to Disley (book) 114 km

Accommodation Acknowledgements... There are a number of farmhouses and guesthouses en route that offer a Writers and Walkers: Mary and Eric Butler, Bernard Cook, Joyce and Tony range of accommodation, as well as a variety of different sized pubs and Harbottle and David Kinsell and many others, as well as hotels. those members who maintain the waymarks. The 2020 version was walked in 2020 by Society members Refreshments including David Kendall, Mike Abraham and Elisabeth There are many public houses and other outlets selling food and drink in the Sullivan. The document was then re-written by Elisabeth villages along the route. Sullivan and Peter Waite.

Maps Web version: Peter Waite OS Explorer Maps 257 and 268. Mapping Peter Waite Waymark © OpenStreetMap Contributors Black lettering on yellow arrow, inscribed "SCW" Please observe the map copyrights.

Issue 1 – October 2020

South Cheshire Way Page 4 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 77 of 77 Update information Path Problems If you encounter any problems en route please report them to : Cheshire East Council (website, letter or telephone) or Shropshire County Changes to the route since this document was originally produced are detailed here. Council for the area between Grindley Brook and the A49. Every effort is taken to ensure that this document is correct but the MCFS cannot be held responsible for errors and changes that occur post-publishing. If you know of any Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and clarity, the MCFS changes please contact the Society. cannot be held responsible for errors, omissions and post publication changes to the route. Aug 2019 The route was walked Eastwards for the document revision. Copyright May 2020 Weston Village Map J on pages 30 and 58 All the maps included within this document use OpenStreetMap as the base Due to new building, south of West and East Avenues and west of point D mapping and non-copyright material for the overlays. on the map, the route has been diverted from West Avenue to East The overlays are © Peter Waite (The author). Avenue. The text and maps show the change. After the building work is completed the route will be correctly waymarked. © Open StreetMap contributors. The data is available under the Open Aug 2020 The Westward route was walked to complete the revision. Database Licence which can be seen at www.openstreetmap.org/copyright. Oct 2020 This .pdf version available from the MCFS website. This document, which is provided in pdf format, may be copied and distributed in whole but not in part. You may print copies of this document for your personal use and to allow you to organise walks for a group of walkers provided that you do not make any charge for the documents. You may download the pdf file to your 'phone or tablet to save printing out the document – just make sure that your battery is fully charged before you venture out!

For part or total inclusion in another publication or for any other purpose written permission from the Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society is required.

South Cheshire Way Page 76 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 5 of 77 USING THIS GUIDE Follow the farm driveway H down to a lane (Wirswall Road)4 G. Turn left down the lane and continue for 800 metres, passing Wirswall Hall and a bridleway on the right. This guide describes the walk in both directions. Take the second bridleway on the right (a green lane) F, immediately before "The To walk east from Grindley Brook to Mow Cop please turn to page 15. Bungalow" on the same side. To walk west from Mow Cop to Grindley Brook please turn to page 44. At the end of the green lane pass through a gate and continue on the same line with The use of Ordnance Survey 1:25000 maps to supplement the maps included the field boundary on the left, crossing into another field (the Cheshire/Shropshire in this guide is recommended. These provide more detailed information, border). After passing along the right-hand side of Hinton Old Hall Farm, go through particularly at field level. a gate on the left to a driveway and follow it the A49 Tarporley Road E. The following links provide on-line access to these maps which can be printed Cross the road and take the track opposite towards Hintonbank Farm and Hinton to take with you as paper or electronic copies. Click on the link and it should Manor. After a white house on your left go through an open gateway with a sign open the appropriate OS 25k “Streetmap”. You may need to scroll to the saying 'Hinton Manor Only' for 50 metres and go left over a stile immediately before location arrow near the centre of the map which may be off your screen. a large oak tree. Go down a bank beside another fence on the right to a gate leading into a green lane D. Grindley Brook Hough Common Turn right down the green lane to the bottom and pass through the gate. Go left C Wicksted Old Hall Weston through a large field, at first following the hedge boundary on the left (ignoring a stile through it after a few metres). Where the boundary angles away near Grindley Brook Marbury Big Mere Crewe Green Farm, continue on the same line to gradually merge with a track coming from the left. At the field corner exit through a gate on to the track and turn right B. Smeaton Hall Haslington Hall Follow the track under an old railway bridge3 then over a canal2 to reach the A41 1 Aston Village Hassall Chester Road A at Grindley Brook , opposite the "Horse and Jockey" public house and with a garage to the left. This is the western end of the South Cheshire Way. Broomhall Thurlwood

River Weaver Little Moreton Hall

Bearcat Fields Mow Cop

A51 by Lea Forge

The following links are to OpenStreetMap street level maps. You can zoom in and out and drag the map to any location.

OSM Weston OSM Mow Cop

South Cheshire Way Page 6 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 75 of 77 Marbury Big Mere to Grindley Brook - continued Layout of pages The route instructions are fairly detailed, providing both a copy of the section

H map and superscript references to points of interest that are shown on the Old Hall Wickstead map as yellow triangles and listed on page 9.

A Walk sections

4 These are split into nine sections of between 4.7 and 8.8 kilometres in length. G With the exception of sections 8 and 9, these are divided into two parts in © Opencontributors. StreetMap order to provide full and easy walking directions. The sections are: Hall Wirswall 1. Grindley Brook to Marbury Big Mere 5.7 km

F 2. Marbury Big Mere to Aston Village 6.7 km 3. Aston Village to River Weaver 6.7 km 4. River Weaver to A51 by Lea Forge 6.0 km 5. A51 by Lea Forge to Weston Church 6.4 km Hinton Old Hall 6. Weston Church to Haslington Hall 5.2 km 7. Haslington Hall to Thurlwood 8.8 km 8. Thurlwood to Little Moreton Hall (A34) 4.9 km 9. Little Moreton Hall (A34) to Mow Cop 4.7 km E ______Total Distance 55.1 km Farm Hinton Bank Relating maps to text Manor Hinton D All maps are shown with north towards the top of the map as you read the map text, irrespective of route direction. Some maps have been rotated on the page to improve their readability. The map letter in the circle allows you to cross reference the points of interest. C The red letters provide waymarks to link the text to the map. All the maps use OpenStreetMap as their base with overlays to suit this document. OpenStreetMap is being updated and refined continuously. You can see the latest version of the base map at www.openstreetmap.org Farm B Grindley Brook Navigation on the ground The route on the ground is clearly marked with waymarks consisting of the

+ usual yellow arrow with the initials SCW clearly printed in the middle. A

South Cheshire Way Page 74 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 7 of 77 From Hollins Lane E bear left towards a stile and the shoreline of Marbury "Big Walking the route Mere". Cross the first stile by the edge of the Mere, after leaving the road, and two 2 It is possible, but not advisable, to walk using only the maps in this booklet. others as you walk alongside the Mere . Then where the Mere shoreline turns away to However, it is recommended that walkers also use an O.S. Explorer 1:25,000 the right continue straight ahead through a field, parallel to a wood on the left. This map. field is frequently marshy.

Whilst none of the sections can be classed as too demanding, the last part At the end cross a stile at the corner of the wood where it turns away left, and bear from Ackers Crossing (railway) to Mow Cop is uphill, climbing some 200 slightly left uphill, ignoring a footpath straight ahead D. Move away from the wood metres or more in height, over a distance of around two kilometres. The on the left, making for a lone oak tree, then turn right up a grassy bank, passing just to remainder of the route is generally across gently rolling or flat countryside and the right of small but steepish hill to cross a stile behind it in the top left corner. there are no towns of any size to be negotiated. Cross the next field beside the hedge on the left, go over a double stile1 through a Bearing in mind the vagaries of the British weather, it is advisable to wear thick hedgerow, and then angle right diagonally C across the next field to a gate in the strong walking footwear and also to carry waterproofs. Farmland can still be top corner to the right of projecting trees. Bear left across another field to cross a stile muddy, even in mid-summer! about 100 metres to the left of farm sheds. Continue on to a signpost at the next fence. Do not cross the stile beside it but turn right B along the fence and cross a stile into a Very little of the route uses main roads, although obviously these have to be track alongside the farm buildings of Wicksted Old Hall A. crossed or walked for very short distances from time to time. Quiet lanes, although not used excessively, are utilised wherever possible to connect Turn left where this enters a farmyard, pass a house on the left and further buildings paths. on the right, then bear right to follow the farm driveway down to a lane (Wirswall Road). The usual road safety naturally applies, walk on footways or verges where these exist. Where this is not possible then walk along the right-hand side of continued on next page > the road. The exception to this is the approach to a right-hand bend, when walkers should cross over to the left-hand side for improved visibility, crossing back to the right-hand side as soon as it is safe to do.

South Cheshire Way Page 8 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 73 of 77 Marbury Big Mere to Grindley Brook Distance: 5.7km. POINTS OF INTEREST

Points of interest are shown on the maps by a yellow triangle . 'Superscript' numbers in the route text identify this connection and are linked to the map letter, e.g. Hankelow Hall2 in the route text for map G refers to note G2 in the points of interest. The yellow triangle containing a + within it indicates more than one point at or near E that location.

Points of Interest listed by map letter

A1 Grindley Brook is the junction of a number of long-distance footpaths as well as a bridleway, all meeting at this point. These are:  Maelor Way (link between SCW and the Offa's Dyke Path) 2  Sandstone Trail (Frodsham to Whitchurch)  Shropshire Way (circular county walk from Shrewsbury with spur to Grindley Brook)  South Cheshire Way (Mow Cop to Grindley Brook)  Bishop Bennett Bridleway (below Beeston Castle to Whitchurch)  Marches Way (Chester to Cardiff but now unsupported) A2 Shropshire Union Canal (Llangollen Branch), originally the Ellesmere Canal - opened in 1805, has an interesting flight of locks about 300 metres south of this point, just near to where the canal goes under the A41 road and is worth a short detour. The top three locks, adjacent to the lock-keeper's cottage, are in the form D of a staircase where one falls directly into the other below. There are also three single locks on the east side of the A41. The lock-keeper's cottage also has some interesting round-fronted brick work facing the canal. A3 Tattenhall and Whitchurch line, opened in 1872. A4 At the start of the driveway leading to Wicksted Old Hall 1 (immediately as you leave Wirswall Road), look just behind the boulder on the right-hand side of the driveway, to note the intriguing plaque which reads 'In memory of the Little C Flower Girl of Wirswall'. In 2019 an elderly Marbury resident recorded that she remembers a local lady who collected wild flowers from the local lanes and hedgerows to sell at Whitchurh Market. In the 1960's the 'flower lady' was an old lady. © DRKendallPVW 2020 A B1 Looking north provides views of Cholmondeley Castle on the hills to left and,

Wickstead slightly right - just to the left of a monumental obelisk in the middle ground (in Old Hall B B memory of the Marquis of Combermere) - Mow Cop (eastern end of the South © Open StreetMap contributors. Cheshire Way) can be seen in the distance on a clear day.

South Cheshire Way Page 72 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 9 of 77 B2 Impressive view of Marbury Church looking north across Marbury Big Mere. between fences past an electricity pole to a gate. Go through and turn left down the C1 The name 'Marbury' has its origins in the words 'mere' - a great pool, and 'birig' - farm drive to a lane (Wrenbury Road) C, then turn right along the lane. After 600 a dwelling, (i.e. 'the house by the pool'). Marbury is an unspoilt, tranquil village, metres, pass through a kissing gate on the left B, just before the first house on the nestling amongst the rolling hills along the South Cheshire/Shropshire border. right. The village contains some interesting half- timbered buildings, as well as the popular 'Swan Inn' public house. Follow the hedge on the right, go ahead through another kissing gate and across a Take a look at the impressive sight of Marbury Church, built on a hillock in an small farmyard, then down the farm track to the road, leaving it just before the end to imposing position overlooking 'Big Mere'. The village has long recognised the go through a kissing gate on the right. Turn right along the road (Hollins Lane) wonderful view to be had from the churchyard and has provided benches for towards Marburyl (a wonderful view of the impressive Marbury Church straight villagers and visitors alike to peacefully sit and admire the 'Big Mere' view. The ahead). Continue for 150 metres, past the angling club gate, then go through a gate by 13th-century church, St. Michael and All Angels, has six bells in its tower, five a signpost on left A. of which were cast in 1719, the sixth probably being Victorian. D1 The South Cheshire Way skirts around the south of Wrenbury village, one of the more interesting villages en route and well worth a small diversion. The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book as being part of the estates held by William de Malbanc who came over with William the Conqueror. The present church, St. Margaret's, dates back to about 1500 and was built using sandstone from the near-by Bickerton Hills. The earliest record of a church on the site, dates back to the early 12th century, when it was in charge of monks from the near-by Combermere Abbey. The village also possesses a village store and post office. Wrenbury was not forgotten as transport links developed. In 1805 the Ellesmere Canal was opened through the village, followed by the railway in 1858 when the line was built between Crewe, Nantwich and Shrewsbury. The small empty brick building near to the stile, close to Wrenbury Station, used to be a bank, open on Wrenbury market days. Today, the canal is busy in summer with holiday boats and includes a narrowboat hire and construction business. The railway still provides workers and villagers alike with means of access to towns such as Crewe, Whitchurch and Shrewsbury. The canal at Wrenbury also has a number of unusual lift bridges, including one which lifts a section of main north-west road route through the village. Others take farm tracks across, but all are similar to the type found in the Netherlands. At the canal end of the village will be found the popular 'Cotton Arms' and 'Dusty Miller' public houses. Wrenbury also hosts a 'Weekend of Scarecrows' in July, when the occasional traveller through the village could be excused for being 'scared out of his wits' at the sights which abound! D2 The village of Aston is still dominated by farming and the mill. The mill was built in the 19th-century by the Sumner family, then became part of the Dalgetty Group and more recently goes under the name of H J Lea-Oaks. Its buildings tower over both the village and the surrounding countryside.

South Cheshire Way Page 10 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 71 of 77 Aston Village to Marbury Big Mere - continued Aston Farm House, at the north end of the village, close to where the South Cheshire Way leaves the main village street, is one of the oldest farmhouses in the area, being built in 1667. Yew Tree House, in the village, is even older at 1645. F Smeaton Another interesting building in the village of Aston is the unusually named Hall Farm 'Bhurtpore Inn', a real-ale pub. Sir Stephen Cotton was made the first Baron of Combermere in 1830. He celebrated his two greatest victories, Bhurtpore in Marbury E Hayes India and Salamanca in Spain, by building public houses named after them. The D 'Salamanca Inn' is now closed, it was by the railway station on the edge of Wrenbury. F1 Some 1.5 km north of Austin's Bridge over the Shropshire Union Mainline Hurst Hall Canal - built as the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction canal and was the last 'narrow' canal of any size. Just east of it, is a 'Secret Nuclear Bunker' now open Townley Farm to the public as a tourist attraction. The tourist sign-posts are well spread around C the locality, giving rise to much hilarity amongst travellers passing as they read signs to the 'Secret Bunker'. 1 B F2 Nearby along the lane was a level crossing over the Nantwich and Market Drayton Railway (GWR), opened in 1863, with Coole Pilate Halt adjacent. C F3 Coole Lane is the 'main' road in the civil parish of Coole Pilate, an unusual name A which intrigues many travellers passing through. It is believed to originate from © Open StreetMap contributors. separate and unrelated words. Coole is thought to be formed from the ancient words of 'cu' and 'hylle', meaning 'cow-hill', originally a forest. There are 12th- After leaving the road F, bear left across a field, heading just right of Smeaton Hall century references to the medieval 'Forest of Chouhul' with 'Cheuhall', farm buildings. Pass to the right of a small pool and cross a stile beyond into a 'Chouuyl', 'Chouall' being amongst other spellings. In the 14th-century the paddock. Continue diagonally left, cross a stile in the far-left corner and then turn spellings had changed to 'Coule', 'Cowle', 'Couelle', 'Koole' and 'Coole'. Pilate's right along a track. Go ahead through a gate into a field and continue with the hedge most likely origins lie in the growing off 'pill-oats' around a croft in the area, i.e. on the right. a 'pilate-croft'. G1 The River Weaver has an unusual course through the heart of Cheshire, with the At the corner, turn left for 20 metres to cross a double stile E. Part way across the Weaver Valley forming some of Cheshire's best and most beautiful farm land. next field bear slightly right towards the right-hand corner of the farm buildings Its source is in the Peckforton Hills where it starts the journey southwards ahead. Cross a stile beside a large farm shed, continue close to the fence on the left, around Wrenbury to just south-west of Audlem where it then heads northward to then go over another stile on the left, just beyond the buildings. Go diagonally right Nantwich and Church Minshull. It becomes navigable at the salt town of across a small copse to a double stile in the far corner, turn left along the hedge D, Winsford then goes to Northwich before entering the Mersey Estuary at then a cross a further stile ahead beside a gate (use the gate if overgrown). Frodsham. Between Northwich and Frodsham it is supplemented by the Weaver Navigation canal, reflecting the heavy boat traffic that used to serve the the In the field beyond, turn right along the hedge to a gate in the corner. Continue ahead heavy industry in these towns. It is little wonder that its name 'Weaver' comes on the same line, passing slightly left through a gap to keep a hedge on your right, and from the ancient word 'wefer(e) -meaning 'winding stream'. at the end of the field go through another gap in this hedge. Bear left down the field G2 Hankelow Hall is a very individual early Georgian brick house, built for Gabriel beyond to join a concrete farm track. Shortly after the track passes over a bridge, Wettenhall and altered for his son, Nathaniel, in 1755-7. Its most striking feature leave it and climb up the field to the right. is the immensely tall parapet with ball finials which tops the three-storey building. After suffering many years of neglect in the 20th-century, some limited Head just left of the farm buildings at the top, crossing a cattle walk and continuing work has been carried out. The nearby Hankelow Court (just to the south from

South Cheshire Way Page 70 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 11 of 77 the track crossing) is a large brick and black and white house dating back to the Turn right along the road for 130 metres and then cross a stile on the left A. 1870's. It was enlarged in 1901 and altered again c. 1958. continued on next page > G3 In the woodland to the south, towards the end of the drive, can be seen the old turnpike road bridge replaced by the A529. G4 800 metres further south along the A529 is the village of Hankelow. It has a pleasant village green with a fenced off duck pond and surrounded by the village houses. I1 Lea Forge - originally the name of an notable early iron-forge, known to have existed c.1650. Received about 150 tons per annum of pig iron c.1710, at the time its furnace was rebuilt. Believed still to be working in 1783 (tax assessments). Known to have been the last charcoal ironworks in Cheshire. Ceased working c.1820 when a cornmill is believed to have superseded the water power forge hammer. Dismantled in 1890. 'Lea' is from the old word 'leah' meaning 'at the clearing'. The hamlet has a population of less than 100. I2 Lea Hall is a 16th century Grade II listed timber framed house which was extended in the 19th and 20th centuries. J1 Hough Common, previously known as 'Hough Heath', is a small tract of land which had an abundance of wild flowers, including the rare cotton plant. It also attracted many species of wild birds, including the nightingale. The heath was also frequently used as a camp by gypsies, when travelling between various fairs. J2 The woodland originally formed part of Weston Hall grounds. The Hall is just to the south-west of the footpath. It was built in 1677, that date being recorded on the front of the building in brick numerals. The manor belonged to the Delves family of Doddington who also built Checkley Hall. J3 'Weston', origin meaning 'West Farm'. J4 'All Saints Church' at Weston was built between 1838 and 1842. K1 Near to the railway bridge, at one stage in time, the railway line dipped as it approached the bridge, only to rise again beyond. This was due to drainage over the years of the moss base on which the bridge is constructed. There are also two watercourses running under the bridge, at differing levels. One is the brook whilst the other is the moss drainage system. K2 The railway is the line between Kidsgrove and Crewe. Opened in 1848 as the 'North Staffordshire Railway' K3 Henbury Lee is now a conservation wetland area, linked on the south to Monneley Mere by Englesea Brook. The brook flows north-west to join with Valley Brook before passing through the heart of Crewe and then into the River Weaver, north of Nantwich. The name 'Henbury Lee' is believed to originate from 'Henbury', a surname, and either the medieval 'laes' - a pasture, or the plural of 'leah' - a wood or clearing. L1 The southern portion of Crewe Golf Course is the main course, with the driving

South Cheshire Way Page 12 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 69 of 77 Aston Village to Marbury Big Mere Distance: 6.7km. range area to the north. Walkers should be alert for flying golf balls. The club does warn its members of the existence of the public right of way across its course. 1 Wrenbury D L2 Haslington Hall was built by Admiral Sir Francis Vernon in 1545. He was an A G Admiral of the Fleet in charge of the demolition of the Armada ships. It is said that the timbers of the hall are from the boats of the Spanish Armada. E Apparently the unusual hardness of some of the oak beams suggest immersion in B C 2 salt water, As the Armada was defeated in 1588 either the story is a rumour or F Aston the Hall may have been built or added to at a later date. D N1 Just east of School Farm at Hassall, there is a narrow lane which leads in 150 © Open StreetMap contributors. metres to Hassall Hall, originally the family home of the Lowndes family. It is an 'H' plan house of the 17th-century, re-fronted in the 19th-century and now presenting a 'mixed' appearance. The garden is surrounded by a brick wall and has a gazebo in one corner. Hassall originates from the ancient word 'haegtesse' From the junction G upon entering Aston village2, turn left along Wrenbury Road for meaning 'the witches nook' 250 metres, passing the 'Bhurtpore Inn' on the right. Cross over and go through a N2 The 'Trent and Mersey Canal' was authorised by an Act of Parliament in 1766 gate F into a narrow footpath between bungalows, opposite houses named "Repton" and opened in 1775 to allow china clay to be transported from Liverpool to the and "Bowood". Potteries with finished product being carried on the return. It was also used for the transport of salt from the Northwich and Middlewich areas. Around the M6 At the end of the narrow path, go through another gate and follow the fence on the motorway bridge is an interesting system of double canal locks, a reminder of right for a short distance, then cross a stile at an angle of fences into a field. the amount of use made in the past by commercial canal traffic. N3 Off to the south of the canal, accessed from Roughwood Lane (canal Bridge No. Cross the field diagonally and go over a stile by a gate in the far right-hand corner. 146), is 'The Potter's Barn'. It is a traditional craft pottery and showroom, with Then bear right across the next field to a kissing gate on to Wrenbury Road E. mugs, teapots, vases and terracotta ware. P1 Little Moreton Hall', a National Trust property, considered by many to be the Turn left for 300 metres to cross a stile on the right, beside a field gate. Bear best example of English half-timbered architecture - almost entirely medieval in diagonally left across the field to the far corner. Cross a stile on to a road D, turn right style. It has been described as 'happily reeling and somewhat disorderly' but this and go over a level crossing. is what gives it its attraction and endearing character. It remains virtually unchanged since the middle of the 1601 century. Open to the public from the Twenty metres after the level crossing at Wrenburyl Station, go through a gate on the end March to early November. left where 2 footpaths enter a very large field C. P2 Note the view northward towards the Pennine Foothills (Peak National Park), and west over the Cheshire Plain to the Welsh and Shropshire borders. From here bear right, passing just to the right of two lone trees which are part way P3 'Old Man of Mow' - a rock pinnacle some 65 feet high and so named because of into the field. Head towards a further lone tree, which becomes visible on the far side its resemblance to a human head, left standing when surrounding rock was as you progress into the field and just before the far extreme hedge (keep the quarried and believed to be the original site of a cairn, an ancient burial electricity lines at the far end always to the left). Cross a stile in the hedge. chamber, similar to the one at Bridestones seven kilometres away. P4 Note the fingerpost (official end point of the South Cheshire Way) indicating the Continue ahead to the right of four large sheds to merge gradually with a hedge 'Old Man of Mow'. This gives the western end of the South Cheshire Way at coming in from the right and a path from the left B. In the corner where the path Grindley Brook as being 53 km, although in fact it is closer to 55 km. meets the hedge, go over a stile. Then walk close to a fence on the right to reach New P5 Mow Cop Castle (a folly) was built in 1754 by local stonemasons John and Road opposite the driveway to Smeaton Hall. Ralph Harding for Randal Wilbraham of Rode Hall. The ruined section of wall is a false feature to add to the dramatic effect of the building on the skyline as

South Cheshire Way Page 68 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 13 of 77 seen from Rode Hall, 3 miles to the west. The adjacent 'Top Station Road' is so with the hedge on the left. Shortly cross a stile in the corner, then go over another stile steep, with a gradient of 1 in 3, that Foden's (a lorry manufacturer whose factory at the next field corner and turn right. Follow the left boundary round two sides of a used to be in Sandbach; and renowned for their brass band) used it to test their square and exit through a gap in a wall into a lane. Turn left to where this joins lorries. Wrenbury Road at a bend A.

You are now entering the village of Aston.

South Cheshire Way Page 14 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 67 of 77 River Weaver to Aston Village - continued

Road colour changed for clarity

Mickley A E Hall

Sandford Bridge F C Aston D SandfordB Farm E New Farm © Open StreetMap contributors.

Leaving the farm track F continue on the same line across another the field to cross a stile at a slight angle in the opposite hedge, then bear slightly left across the next field Walking east from to cross a further stile. In the narrow field beyond keep ahead to cross a stile into a paddock. Grindley Brook to At the far side, go through a gate into a short track and exit by a stile on to a driveway. Turn left and follow this down to Heatley Lane E. Mow Cop Turn left down the lane for 450 metres and, immediately before the first bungalow on the right, turn right over a stile into a field D.

Follow the hedge on the left to a point 120 metres from the top left field corner and then bear right to cross a stile in the fence, next to a gate, on the brow of a hill.

Bear diagonally right across the next large field on a line towards a clump of trees by a dip in the field. Pass just to the right of these trees and head slightly left for a point 60 metres to the right of the far left-hand field corner. Here you will find a stile, in a dip, tucked well into the hedgerow, just to the right of a large oak tree.

Cross a narrow boggy field and climb steps leading up to the busy A530 Whitchurch Road C.

Turn left and walk with care down the right-hand side of this road. After 450 metres, turn right B into a driveway between a roadside white cottage to the right and a red brick building, further back, to the left. Go immediately left through a narrow passageway to short, hedged track.

At the end of the track enter a field and follow the hedge on the right. Continue with the hedge on the right. Go through a kissing gate in the field corner and continue now

South Cheshire Way Page 66 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 15 of 77 Grindley Brook to Marbury Big Mere Distance: 5.7km. River Weaver to Aston Village Distance: 6.7km.

1 H Old Hall Old

Wickstead Mickley Hall

A A 4 G

© Open StreetMap contributors. StreetMap Open © + Westview Cottages RiverWeaver Hall Wirswall B C Austin's Bridge F F D © Open StreetMap contributors. Hinton Old Hall Old

After turning left at the River Weaver D, follow the riverbank to cross a stile in the hedge ahead. Bear left to meet a further hedge and continue along it to cross three further stiles. E

After this bear right across the next field towards a stile by a gateway in the right- Farm

Hinton Bank Hinton hand boundary approx. 80 metres before the field corner. Cross this and turn left, Manor Hinton D following the fence on the left to a stile into the next field. Keep on the same line, an old hedge line now marked by three individual oak trees, and cross the stile at the field end.

C In the next field follow the hedge on the right and exit by a further stile into Coole Lane3 C. Turn left along the lane2 for 160 metres to a track on the right and follow this over a canal1 bridge and a stile into a field B.

Keep the hedge on the left, cross a stile and continue now with a fence on the left. At Farm a point where another fence line joins from the left (160 metres before the end of the B Grindley Brook Grindley field) bear slightly right to cross a stile in the bottom hedge approx 40 metres from the

+ left corner. A Follow the hedge on the right to cross a stile in the next field corner, and then cut across the following field to a protruding hedge corner. Keep this hedge on the right for a short distance, then bear left into the middle of the field before turning further left to cross two stiles either side of a farm track A.

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South Cheshire Way Page 16 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 65 of 77 A51 by Lea Forge to River Weaver – continued. Opposite the 'Horse and Jockey' public house A is a track to the left of a petrol station1. The track here is waymarked as the Bishop Bennet Way and does not have a SCW sign.

River 1 2 Weaver Follow the track over a canal bridge , then immediately after passing under an old railway bridge3 enter a field on the left through a gate. Initially keep close to the fence 2 on the right and then, as the track curves away to the right B, continue ahead on the Hankelow Hall same line through the long field, aiming to rejoin the right hand boundary as it comes A back in. 3 D E Foxes Bank Farm C At the end of the field C, ignore a stile on the right and go forward through a gate to B continue along the green lane ahead. About 70 metres before the start of farm buildings D (observable at the top of the green lane), look for a gate on the left. Go through and up a short bank, beside a fence G on the left, to a stile on to a track. Turn right and follow the track to its end at the A49 4 Hankelow main road E. Cross the road and take the track opposite, towards "Hinton Old Hall".

© Open StreetMap contributors. Just before the track enters house grounds, go through a gate on the left into a field, Turn right along Bridgemere Lane E for 1.35 km. to a T-junction with the A529 passing to the left of Hinton Old Hall Farm and continuing on the bridleway with the Audlem Road (keeping straight on at the Birchall Moss Lane fork) D. field boundary on the right.

Turn left along the footway of the A529 (direction Hankelow4 and Audlem) for 400 Cross into the next field (the Shropshire/Cheshire border) following the same line, metres, then just after the farms on both sides of the road, cross the road and go then go through a gate to enter a green lane. At the top of the lane turn left along the through a gap in the wall to the left of the driveway3 C. Follow the drive to pass to tarmac lane F (Wirswall Road). the left of a bungalow and enter a field. After 800 metres (having passed Wirswall Hall and a bridleway on the left) turn right 4 Angle right across the field to a gap between trees. Go through past an overgrown up a drive leading to Wicksted Old Hall G. stile and keep close to the left field boundary (view of Hankelow Ha1l2 to right). At the end of the field bear right and pass through a small wooded area. Go through a After leaving the road, walk the length of the fenced driveway, following round to the kissing gate to a track and across the stile opposite. left at the top, and pass between the farm buildings and house of Wicksted Old Hall H. Keep just right of a hedge through a field, and at the bottom go through a kissing gate and down three steps into a narrow tarmacked lane B. Cross the lane to exit by a stile slightly to your left and continue along a track with a hedge to the left. Follow this as continued on next page > it curves right, cross the River Weaver1 A on a tractor bridge and immediately turn left.

South Cheshire Way Page 64 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 17 of 77 Grindley Brook to Marbury Big Mere – continued Turn left down the A51 London Road F with care for 200 metres then right down a driveway E. At the fork, keep right (straight on) and continue along the driveway towards a large red-brick house. Shortly before the house, cross a stile in the fence on the right and a further stile in the left-hand corner by a house brick wall. Turn left and continue by the wall along the left edge of a field.

Keep on this line through a tree planted area, cross a footbridge over a stream D and E bear left across a recessed field corner. Then continue round the field edge with trees on the left. On reaching a hedge turn right along it to meet Hunsterson Road C. Go over and across a stile, then at the end of a short field cross a stile in the left hand hedge.

Continue alongside a hedge on the right for about 15 metres then forward to a stile in a fence (a short distance). Cross this and angle right past an electricity pole to a stile 2 and bridge in the next hedge.

Over this, cross the field diagonally, towards the far right corner. Just before the corner cross a stile, hidden to the right of a large tree, into a copse. Keep a large pool to the left and exit by a further stile after a short distance.

Cross the next larger field along a line just to the right of the first tree (an old hedge- line), passing over the ridge towards the field boundary at the bottom of the dip. Bear slightly right to cross a footbridge B with stiles in the far hedge. Continue on a line just left of the house ahead. Go through the gates at the top of the driveway and D follow this down to Bridgemere Lane A.

continued on next page >

1

C

A

Wickstead Old Hall B B © Open StreetMap contributors.

South Cheshire Way Page 18 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 63 of 77 A51 by Lea Forge to River Weaver Distance: 6.0km. Immediately past the house A (on the right), turn right along the track to cross a stile into a field.

Follow the fence on the right to the footpath "crossroads" B with stile and signpost on F the right. Do not go over this stile but turn left 90 degrees and cross the field to another stile. Go over and continue in the next field1, ignoring the path on the right C, then heading very slightly left of the previous direction.

E Cross a stile just to the left of projecting trees, and bear diagonally left across the next field. Then cross two stiles through a thick hedgerow, just to the left of the field corner. Follow the hedge on the right through another field and cross a further stile.

In the next field, pass to the immediate left of the small hill in front and bear left D to approach the corner of a wood on the right2.

D Cross a stile and continue parallel to the wood (the field is often marshy), then cross another stile to walk a path along the side of Marbury Big Mere on the left.

After two more stiles, bear slightly right (the mere curves away left) and go through a gate to the road on the edge of Marbury village E. C

Bearcat Fields B

H

A © Open StreetMap contributors.

South Cheshire Way Page 62 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 19 of 77 Marbury Big Mere to Aston Village Distance: 6.7km. At Birch Lane E turn left for a short distance and go through a kissing gate just to the right of a pair of tall gates. Go round a short paddock anticlockwise to pass through a kissing gate in the diagonally opposite corner. Turn right to walk round two sides of a small field. Go right through a kissing gate at the corner, then shortly left over a stile F Smeaton in the hedge to a driveway. Turn right and continue to Cobb’s Lane. Hall Farm Turn left along the lane, then take the next footpath on the left D, which passes Marbury E Hayes immediately to the left of a house (there are paths off to the right of the lane at this D point).

Follow this path to cross a stile into a field and continue along the field boundary on Hurst Hall the left.

Townley Farm When the hedge turns 90 degrees left, go ahead across the field, in a line just to the C left of the second electricity pole in front of you and left of a pond. Head about 150 metres to the right of farm buildings to two stiles, either side of a farm drive. 1 B Cross these and go downhill with a hedge on the right. At the bottom corner cross a C stile in this hedge, then follow the field boundary on the left for 45 metres to another A stile. Cross this and continue in a straight line across the field to reach a field gate into © Open StreetMap contributors. Wrinehill Road C.

On reaching the road1 A after leaving Marbury Big Mere, turn right for 150 metres Turn left along Wrinehill Road for approx. 75 metres to a driveway off to the right. and then left by a signpost through a kissing gate on to to a farm driveway. Follow this towards Lea Hall2 where it turns left, just before the first buildings. Go straight ahead through a kissing gate and incline left across a field corner to another At the end go through a small farmyard, keeping ahead to pass through a kissing gate. kissing gate, just before a hedge commences. Continue close to the hedge on the left then pass through a further kissing gate on to a lane B. Turn right and walk along the road for 600 metres to enter a farm drive (Hurst Go through and follow the hedge on your right through a large field, past a redundant Hall) on the left just on a right-hand bend C. stile, to cross a further stile in the far right corner. Drop down a bank, turn left through a gate B and continue down to join a hard surface track at Lea Forge1. Towards the top of the of the drive, turn right through a gate and walk between fences, past an electricity pole and across a cattle walk, down to a concrete farm track. Follow the track to reach the A51 London Road A.

Turn left along the track and over a bridge for a short distance. As the track starts to bear left, continue straight ahead up the field, then pass through a gap in the hedge on the right just beyond some trees. Continue along the other side of the hedge, then pass back through it at the end of the field. Go ahead through a gate, and continue with the boundary on the left towards the end of the next field.

Shortly before the corner, cross a stile on the left, just after a field gate (if overgrown, use the gate). Go straight ahead for a short distance with a hedge on the right, then cross a double stile in this hedge D.

South Cheshire Way Page 20 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 61 of 77 Weston Church to A5l by Lea Forge – continued. Bear left through a small copse towards the start of farm buildings and cross a stile by a gate, then turn right along the fence past a large farm shed. Cross a stile by the shed E and bear very slightly right across the middle of the field to cross a double stile E. Turn left for a few metres and follow the hedge round to the right in the field corner. Continue with the hedge on the left, to pass through a gate at the top and on to a farm track.

D Highfield Farm As the track bears slightly right, cross a stile on the left then bear right across a paddock to go over a stile just right of the far field corner. Skirt left around a pool, and then go diagonally left across the field and exit by a stile in the left-hand corner on to a road F.

continued on next page >

U

C

Lea Hall 2

Lea Forge Farm B

1

I A © Open StreetMap contributors.

South Cheshire Way Page 60 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 21 of 77 Marbury Big Mere to Aston Village - continued Cross the road with care and continue down Chorlton Lane. After 200 metres, immediately beyond Chorlton Methodist Chapel, pass through a kissing gate on the 1 Wrenbury right. Follow the hedge on the right, then when it ends continue on the same line, past D a small stable block to a footbridge over the main 'West Coast' railway line B. A G After the footbridge, cross a stile and continue close to the hedge on the left. Cross E three stiles on this line, the second and third being either side of a track to Heath B C 2 Farm. Carry on down the hedge line to a stile and footbridge at the bottom of the F Aston D field. Pass through a low-lying area of new woodland (this can be very wet although part of it is boarded) and exit by a stile into a larger field. Follow the three trees on an © Open StreetMap contributors. old hedge line across the field and at the last one, about 30 metres before the far hedge, bear right to the field corner. [NB The path across this field may be reinstated Turn right A along New Road for 130 metres and then turn left into a field, directly in a direct line to the corner, i.e. not along the definitive (tree) line.] opposite the driveway to Smeaton Hall. Cross a stile in the field corner and turn right alongside fencing to reach a kissing Keep close to the barbed wire fence on the left to cross a stile B. Fork left, initially gate. Go through this and turn left along a track through woodland behind Hough following the left hand boundary then moving away from it past four large sheds. Common1 to the end at the tarmacked Birch Lane A. Cross the stile at the far side of the field to enter a very large field. continued on next page > Approximately 40 metres into the field is a lone oak tree. Take a line just to the right of this and head towards the far right corner, to arrive at a gate C leading on to the road by Wrenburyl Station and level crossing. Turn right along the road, over the level crossing and on for a further 120 metres to a stile on the left D.

Cross this stile and bear diagonally right across the field to another stile in the far right-hand corner (to the right of a gate). Go over and turn left along Wrenbury Road for 300 metres to a kissing gate on the right-hand side E.

Go through the gate and bear slightly left across the field towards a field gate. Go over a stile by the gate and diagonally right across the next field to a stile in the angle of fences.

Cross this stile, turn left along a fence, go through a gate then down a path between bungalows to a gate F at the road in the village of Aston2. Cross over and turn left along Wrenbury Road, past the Bhurtpore Inn, for 250 metres to where the road bends sharp left.

To exit the village of Aston, go ahead into the lane where Wrenbury Road bends left, and just past the first house go through a gap in the wall on the right G.

South Cheshire Way Page 22 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 59 of 77 Weston Church to A5l by Lea Forge Distance: 6.4km. Aston Village to River Weaver Distance: 6.7km.

Road colour changed for clarity

3 E Mickley 4 Hall All Saints A E Church

Sandford Bridge F C D Aston D SandfordB Farm E New Farm © Open StreetMap contributors.

2 From the gap in the wall A, follow the boundary on your right round two sides of a square to a stile. C Cross the stile and go through a field with the hedge on the right. Cross a stile in the Chorlton Methodist Chapel corner and continue with the hedge on the right. After a short distance, go through a

Heath Farm gate, turn left, and now continue with the hedge on the left. Cross two more fields and enter a driveway between buildings, then go through a gate to reach the A530 main B 1 road B.

Hough Common Turn left along the A530 and walk with care (no footway) for 450 metres. Just after A crossing the road bridge over the River Weaver, look right for a signpost and steps down C. Go across a narrow field (tends to be boggy) to cross a stile. Head straight across a large field to pass just left of a protruding clump of trees and a small pit, and J then bear slightly left to meet the fence on the left at the brow of a hill.

© Open StreetMap contributors. Cross a stile in this fence, to the left of a field gate and about 80 metres before the field corner. Cut across the corner of the next field diagonally right to reach the hedge line 120 metres from the corner. Follow the hedge on your right to Heatley Lane. From Main Road E take the first road to the right (Cemetery Road), keeping All Saints Church on the left. From All Saints Church4 in Weston3, continue along At Heatley Lane D, ignore the path directly opposite and turn left for 450 metres, then Cemetery Road and turn down the first road on the left, East Avenue. just after Slaughterhouse Lane turn right along a track signed “Harlequin Cottage” E. At the end, take the path to a stile in the hedgerow D. Go over this and half right across the next field to a line of trees, then cross a footbridge just beyond. Continue As you are level with first house on the left, bear slightly right over a stile to enter a short track, then exit through a gate. Cross a paddock to another stile into a field. across another field, cross a footbridge over Basford Brook into a wooded area2 and Continue down this field, angling slight left to a stile in far left-hand corner. Then follow a well-marked path up to a stile at the top. Cross the next field, following the cross the next field to a stile in the middle of the opposite hedge line. same line, to reach Newcastle Road C just after joining a short length of hedge on the right. Cross another field to where a hedge changes to fencing with two stiles over a track F. continued on next page >

South Cheshire Way Page 58 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 23 of 77 Aston Village to River Weaver - continued out, go over a stile and continue with the field boundary now on your left. Cut across the end corner of the field to cross a stile immediately in front of a pair of semi- 1 detached red brick cottages. Continue along a short length of track to a lane.

Mickley Hall Turn right along the lane for a short distance and go over a stile on the left. Cut across A a short corner of a field to a further stile leading to the busy B5472 Weston Road C. Cross this with care to a stile opposite into a large field.

+ Go ahead up the field and over the crest, meeting up with the right-hand hedge just Westview Cottages

RiverWeaver before a fence at the top. Turn right through a gap by a stile and continue along the B C fence to another stile. Cross this and follow the fence round into an enclosed footway Austin's Bridge across a bridge over the A500 B. At the end, turn left down steps and over a stile. F D Continue along the left-hand fence and turn right just before a telegraph pole standing © Open StreetMap contributors. a few metres away from it. Cross the field, passing to the left of a remnant of hedge, to a footbridge in the far hedge, just to the right of a small wood. Go over and Go over both these stiles A, and then ahead to the middle of the next field before continue on the same line to a stile leading into a cul-de-sac (Smithy Lane) A. Follow bearing right to meet the far boundary shortly to the left of a protruding hedge point. this to a road, cross over and turn left. Turn right, and where the hedge ends continue on same line to a stile near the far left corner. In the field beyond follow the hedge on the left to a stile just to the right of the corner.

In the next field, bear slightly right to join the right-hand fence after 150 metres, and then keep close to the fence to the top corner and cross a stile.

Continue down the next field, close to the hedge on the right, to a stile at Austin's Bridge B over the Shropshire Union Canal1. Cross the canal to reach Coole2&3 Lane and turn left. After 160 metres, cross a ditch and a stile C on the right into a field, then continue with a hedge on the left to cross a further stile. In the next field follow the same line, passing close to three individual oak trees which mark an old hedge line. Cross a stile into another field and keep ahead to cross a stile in the right-hand fence beside a field gate.

Bear diagonally left across the next field to the far corner and cross a stile just left of the corner (may be hidden by a thick hedge).

Follow the hedge on your right, crossing further stiles, then descend towards the riverbank, bearing left to a stile in another hedge ahead. Continue along the riverbank and over a farm track bridge D across the River Weaver.

South Cheshire Way Page 24 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 57 of 77 Haslington Hall to Weston Church - continued River Weaver to A51 by Lea Forge Distance: 6.0km.

River Weaver 1

2 E Hankelow Hall 3 A Henbury 3 D E Lee Foxes Bank Farm + C B D

4 Hankelow G

© Open StreetMap contributors.

After crossing the River Weaver1 A follow the track round to the left, and continue close to the hedge, initially on the left and then on the right, to a cross a stile in a C fence into a narrow tarmacked lane B. Go diagonally left across the lane, exit by three B steps up to a kissing gate and continue with the field boundary on the right.

Cross a stile to a track and go through a kissing gate opposite. Pass through an area with trees and turn left at the end, ignoring the gate straight on. Continue close to the fence on the right, towards a gap in the trees at the far end of the field. (Note the view of Hankelow Ha1l2 to the left.) A K Go through the gap past an overgrown stile and bear right across the next field on a All Saints Church line immediately to the right of a bungalow in the far corner. Enter the driveway of © Open StreetMap contributors. the bungalow and follow it to the end, passing through a gap in a stone wall on the right to reach the A529 main road3 C (north east of Hankelow4). Leave the road through this gate E to continue along a path with the railway line2 just to the left. This passes through woodland, an open field and finally Henbury Lee3 Cross the road with care and turn left along the footway for 400 metres to Bridgemere conservation area (where the path has been boarded). At the end, cross a footbridge Lane on the right D. Turn right down the lane (signposted Hunsterson 1¼ miles) and over Englesea Brook and immediately turn left through a bridge1 under the railway D. continue for 1.35 km. Pass the driveway to Fox's Bank Farm on the right and Fox's Bank Cottage on the left, continue for approx. l00 metres and turn left along the Turn right over two stiles into a narrow fenced field running along the railway driveway of Bearcat Fields E. embankment, now on the right. At the end and about 20 metres left of the right hand hedge, cross a stile and a footbridge in quick succession and go ahead with a field continued on next page > boundary on your right. At a small dog-leg in the hedge just before the hedge runs

South Cheshire Way Page 56 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 25 of 77 River Weaver to A51 by Lea Forge - continued Go into the driveway of Haslington Hall F. At the first fork in the drive of Haslington Hall2, keep left, close to a pool, and enter a stone paved courtyard in front of the main Hall. Turn right and leave the courtyard along a drive leading to a cattle grid. Go over F this and immediately turn left E over a stile into a paddock running beside another track (or turn left and walk along the track).

A stile at the end of the paddock leads back on to the track, which continues to a E kissing gate on the left D. Go through and bear diagonally right across a field to another kissing gate in the far corner. After this continue on same line to cut the corner of the next field and go through a third kissing gate1 and over a plank bridge on to Crewe Golf Course.

The route across the golf course is marked by occasional metre high waymarked D posts. Initially take a line heading about 100 metres left of the clubhouse C keeping to the left of the practice ranges and just to the right of group of tall Leylandii trees. Here pass just right of a small brick building hidden behind a hedge/shrubbery, cross a track and incline slightly left, as indicated on a (numerously waymarked!) signpost. The path line passes about 100 metres to the right of a further small brick building with a large clock on the front and you take a slightly left route to follow a south to C south easterly line. After crossing several fairways, enter a path through a belt of trees, to the left of a steep drop, cross another fairway and enter a wooded dell.

Descend through the dell to cross a footbridge over Valley Brook, then continue up to a road, passing over a stile by a black and white cottage on the left.

Turn left at the road (B5077) B with care for a short distance, then turn right into Barthomley Road. Follow this to a kissing gate on the right just before a road bridge over a railway A.

Bearcat B Fields continued on next page >

H

A © Open StreetMap contributors.

South Cheshire Way Page 26 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 55 of 77 Haslington Hall to Weston Church Distance: 5.2km. Follow the drive A to metal gates and continue through the grounds, just to the right of the house, to a footbridge B with stiles in the far hedge. Go ahead to climb up a F field bank, ignoring a footpath off to the right along the boundary.

E Woodside Farm At the top of the bank continue on the same line, immediately left of two lone trees Haslington Hall (an old hedge line), to a stile in a fence with a pool to the right. Bear left, across a 2 copse, to cross another stile in 20 metres, then bear right across a field to cross a double stile approximately in the centre of the far hedge. D Pass an electricity pole, cross a stile and head towards a shed at the end of a conifer hedge. Cross the stile close by and turn immediately right along a hedge to reach Hunsterson Road C.

Cross the road and continue with the hedge on the right. Turn left at a small wood, still following the boundary on your right.

As the wood drops away further to the right, continue on the same line to cut the corner of the field and arrive at a footbridge D at the bottom of a field dip (may be hidden by long grass). Cross these and then bear left up through a tree plantation.

CH C Enter a field and follow the boundary on the right. 1 At the end of a wall cross over a stile on the right and bear left a short distance to cross a further stile on to a driveway. Turn left and follow this all the way to the A51 Crewe Golf Course London Road E. At the road, turn left and walk with care for 200 metres to a tarmac track on the right F, leading to Lea Forge.

B

A L

© Open StreetMap contributors.

South Cheshire Way Page 54 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 27 of 77 A51, near Lea Forge, to Weston Church Distance: 6.4km. At the road in Hassall C, turn right for a short distance to a footpath off to left, just before the right-hand bend in the road. Go through two gates in quick succession and then incline slightly left across the next field to a gate in the bottom left corner. Go E though this and continue with the hedge on the left to a bridge across a stream at the field corner.

Continue on the same line, but now with the hedge on the right-hand side. Go past the garden fence of Bridgehouse Farm to the end of the farm drive. Cross a track and D Highfield Farm through a gate to enter a large field. Walk the whole length of the field, keeping the hedge on the right.

At end of the field, go through a gate and incline slightly right to a junction of paths at right-angles B. Go through the two gates to the path turning right and continue, with a barbed wire fence immediately on your left, through two fields. Exit by a gate to the corner of a vehicular track, cross diagonally right and go through a further gate into a field.

Follow the left hand hedge to a stile into the grounds of Moss Cottages Farm and Kennels. Follow way marks leading to the right of the drive, then opposite the front door of the house, pass through a gap on the right and along behind a short length of U Leylandii hedge. On emerging, stay close to the hedge on right through a small paddock, usually full of caravans, to a stile at the far end.

In the next field, initially keep the hedge on the right. When this ceases, continue on in a straight line to the gate. Then walk on the same line to another gate.

C Head for a gate leading to a road just left of Barnfields Farm buildings A, then cross the road (Helmshaw Lane).

Lea Hall 2

Lea Forge Farm B

1

I A © Open StreetMap contributors.

South Cheshire Way Page 28 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 53 of 77 Thurlwood to Haslington Hall - continued Leave the A5l along the track A to Lea Forge1, go over Forge Brook and continue past a large metal shed. Go ahead through a bridleway gate just after the tarmac track bears right. After a short distance go through a gate B and immediately turn sharp right, up a bank, to cross a stile in a hedgerow.

Turn left and follow the hedge on the left through a long field, passing a redundant stile, to reach a kissing gate just as the hedge finishes. Go through this and bear left across the corner of a field to pass through a kissing gate on to a driveway from Lea Hall2. Follow this to a road.

School Farm At the road C (Wrinehill Road), turn left for a short distance to a footpath on the right through a field gate. Cross the field, angling slightly left over the field ridge to a stile C in the fence line at the bottom of a dip. Over this, turn immediately right for 60 metres to cross a stile in the field corner. Turn left up a slope and follow the hedge on the left to cross two further stiles, either side of a concrete drive.

In the next large field, take a line just right of the electricity pole halfway across, to Bridgehouse Farm arrive at a protruding hedge corner. Bear slightly left, now with the hedge on the right, to the corner of the field by a garden fence. Cross a stile on the right and go alongside the garden and a house to Cobb's Lane D. Turn right along the lane.

In 160 metres, take the footpath signed off to the right along a drive, just beyond house number 143. At the end, just before the entrance to Yew Tree Farm, go over a

Moss stile on the left, then turn immediately right through a kissing gate. Turn left and Cottages walk round two sides of a small field to go through another kissing gate. Go B clockwise around a small paddock and exit through a kissing gate diagonally opposite. Go left on a tarmac access road to the second track off to the right, into

Barnfields woodland E. Farm A continued on next page >

Woodside M Farm Haslington Hall © Open StreetMap contributors.

South Cheshire Way Page 52 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 29 of 77 A51, near Lea Forge, to Weston Church - continued Cross the A533 Sandbach Road H and walk slightly right, then immediately left into the premises of A P Matthews Plant Nurseries. Go through the yard and over a canal bridge (Becketts Bridge No 142).

3 E 4 Turn left on the far side of the bridge, down to the canal towpath. Walk west, under All Saints Church the bridge (with the canal on your right) G. Pass over the Chells Hill Aqueduct No 143 and under the farm bridge (Chells Hill Bridge No 144) F. The South Cheshire Way now follows the towpath of the Trent and Mersey Canal2,3 for a distance of 4 D km., passing under the M6 Motorway E and numerous locks to Malkin's Bank Bridge No 151 just after passing golf club buildings on the left.

Immediately before the bridge, pass through a gap in the wall on the left in front of 2 the terraced houses, then turn left down the side of them D. Continue along a hard track straight across a golf course (beware of flying golf balls!) and up past a row of houses (Jubilee Villas) on the left, to arrive at a road (Mill Lane) C. C Cross the road to continue down a 'No Through Road' signed Hassall Moss, between Chorlton Methodist Chapel Bank Farm and Hassall House Farm buildings and past a footpath off to the left. At Heath Farm the bottom of the bank go straight ahead, where the surfaced road turns left, along a B drive passing immediately in front of Jacob's Cottage B. Climb up the steps ahead and 1 through a gate into a field. Incline half-left towards farm buildings in the distance.

Hough Common Keep to the right-hand side of a hedge at the bottom of a bank, cross a footbridge over a stream and turn left to go through a kissing gate. A Continue across a further field on a line just left of the farm buildings (School Farm). In the field corner go through two kissing gates in quick succession, and continue J uphill in the next field on the same line, left of farm buildings, to cross a stile. Then

© Open StreetMap contributors. take a route round School Farm to the left of a silage clamp to a gate in the far right corner of the field, behind the clamp. Go through this and another gate to arrive at Alsager Road A in the hamlet of Hassall1. Follow the track A through woodland behind Hough Commonl. At the end turn right then go through a kissing gate to a path alongside fencing. continued on next page >

In 80 metres cross a stile on the left. Take a line moving slightly away from the hedge on the right to a large tree about 30metres from the hedge. Turn left to follow the line of two further trees (an old hedge line) across the field to a stile into an area of new woodland. (This area can be very wet, although part of the path is boarded).

Cross a stile and a footbridge over a stream (Swill Brook). Continue up a field close to the hedge on the right. Cross two stiles at a track leading to Heath Farm (to left) and continue on the same line across two more fields to a railway line.

South Cheshire Way Page 30 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 51 of 77 Thurlwood to Haslington Hall Distance: 8.8km. Cross the railway (the main 'West Coast' route) by a footbridge B and continue ahead past a stable block to reach Chorlton Lane just to the right of a Methodist Chapel.

E Turn left along the lane, and at the end carefully cross the main road to enter a field via the gate opposite C. Follow a short length of hedge on the left, then when this 3 turns sharp left, continue ahead on the same line across the field, to reach a stile at the edge of a wood. Follow a well-defined path as it winds left by a post across the wood2 to cross a footbridge over Basford Brook at the far side. Continue up a short bank on F H Thurlwood the same line and over a field to another footbridge. Cross this and incline slightly left to a stile part way along the next field boundary D. © Open StreetMap contributors. G Go over the stile and turn right to East Avenue. At the top, turn right along Cemetery Road, Weston3 and keep to the left of All Saints Church4 to meet a 'T' junction where 2 you turn L onto Main Road E.

D

Jubilee Villas C

Bank E Farm Hassall House Farm Jacob's Cottage B

School Farm N Hassall A Hall 1 © Open StreetMap contributors.

South Cheshire Way Page 50 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 31 of 77 Weston Church to Haslington Hall Distance: 5.2km. From Little Moreton Hall driveway F, cross the road and turn right along the A34 on the footway. In 230 metres turn left E down a farm track just after the lay-by. Follow the track, keeping farmhouse and glasshouses on the left and continuing into a field. At the end of the field turn left. Bear right between a hedge and a small copse of trees, then continue into another field, keeping the boundary with trees to the right, and exit into Chance Hall Lane D. E At the road turn left for 700 metres then turn right at Pump Farm along the track 3 towards Higher Smallwood Farm. Follow it round to the right, then just after a left- Henbury Lee hand bend keep straight on, passing a track off to the right. + Enter a field, continuing on the track with the hedge on the right. At the end of the D field, turn right just in front of a copse of trees. Enter another field and follow the right-hand boundary, turning left at the top corner, to Boden Hall buildings.

Pass between buildings keeping a wall to the left, then go diagonally right to pass through a gate into tree-planted area. Continue to incline half-right and exit over two stiles in close proximity into a field.

Cross another stile in the hedge on the left and incline right across the next field, keeping electricity poles just to the right. At the field corner turn left on to a track and C follow it round, with the main buildings of Forge Farm to the right, to reach the A50 B Newcastle Road. Cross carefully, turn right along the footway for 50 metres to the first footpath signpost off to left B and turn down a track.

Follow the track into a field and keep ahead to pick up and follow a hedge on the left. As this hedge curves slightly left, incline right to a gap in the hedge at the top right- hand field corner. Cross a small meadow and a further stile into the grounds of a plant A nursery and continue on same line, keeping right of a hedge when it commences, to K reach the A533 Sandbach Road A opposite houses. All Saints Church © Open StreetMap contributors.

To exit the village of Weston, at the 'T' junction, just to the rear of the church, turn left along the main village road. After a short distance, take the first turn right (Smithy Lane) A and cross a stile at the top.

Continue across a field in a straight line to a footbridge over water. Cross this and continue forward, passing to the right of a remnant of hedge, to reach the far fence line just to the left of a telegraph pole. Turn left along the fence and cross a stile in the corner. Go up the steps and turn right, just before another stile, into an enclosed footway across a bridge over the A500 B.

South Cheshire Way Page 32 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 49 of 77 Little Moreton Hall (A34) to Thurlwood Distance: 4.9km. Turn right at the end and exit by a stile on the left. Continue along the fence to a stile by a broad gap in the next hedge. Turn left and descend the field beyond, angling

F slightly right to cross a stile in the bottom hedge about 100m from the left corner C. Cross the busy B5472 Weston Road to another stile. Go over and cut across the short Hall Little Moreton corner of a field to a stile on to a lane. Turn right for a short distance, then fork left E O down a track (immediately before a pair of semi-detached red brick cottages on the

Farm right) and cross a stile at the end into a large field. Cuttleford © Open StreetMap contributors. StreetMap Open © Cut the corner of the field for a short distance to join the right-hand hedge. After about 80 metres ignore the path that branches off to your left. Follow the hedge, crossing a stile on the right as the field narrows and the hedge kinks slightly and continuing along the other side.

D Cross a footbridge over water and two stiles into a narrow fenced field alongside a railway embankment. At the end, cross two stiles in quick succession then turn left under a bridge1 beneath the railway2 D. C Turn right immediately on other side across a footbridge over a stream and follow a path alongside the foot of the railway embankment (the first section, through Henbury 3 Farm Pump Lee conservation area to the left, is boarded). Continue beside the railway through a field then woodland to arrive at a kissing gate3 into a lane (Barthomley Road) E.

continued on next page > Higher Smallwood Farm Smallwood Higher Hall Boden Farm Forge B Thurlwood A

South Cheshire Way Page 48 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 33 of 77 Weston Church to Haslington Hall - continued Exit the car park F at the foot of Mow Cop Castle5 by going to the left of the castle (the north side) on to a track. Turn left and go down to a road (Wood Street). At the road turn right and then immediately left4 on to another track. After a short distance, F take a path to the right and pass in front of the 'Old Man of Mow'3. Continue along this path to rejoin the main track. E Woodside Farm Haslington 2 Hall Just after a stone cottage on the right and before a radio mast, turn left E over a stile 2 into a track beside a field and commence the descent to the Cheshire Plain.

Continue down two more fields, keeping a wall on the left, then go through a gate into D Hanging Wood. Follow the well defined path through the wood to exit through a gate into a field. Turn right, keeping a stone wall then fencing on the right (it can be boggy close to the boundary) to the corner of a stone cottage's garden.

Continue down towards the right field corner, then exit through a gate and descend to a wide track. Turn left, continue downhill and bear right at a track junction (Wood Farm). Turn left D when meeting a tarmac lane (Yew Tree Lane) towards the railway.

Just before you reach the railway, go through a gate on your left onto a path which goes through a subway under the railway (Acker's Crossing) and rejoin the tarmac CH C road. Go left and continue past bungalows on the right, then turn right at the junction 1 with New Road (with a telephone box on the left just after turning).

Go over a canal bridge C and descend immediately on the right to the canal towpath. Crewe Golf Course Pass under the bridge and follow the towpath to the next bridge B. Just beyond this, go through 2 gates to ascend the bank and then turn left along a track.

Go a short distance along the track to a path on the left into a field. Keep the hedge on the right through this and the next field to arrive at a stile.

Cross the stile and angle diagonally across the field to the far right corner. Go through two gates in quick succession and along the next field with the hedge on the right. Go through the another gate into the driveway of Little Moreton Hall1 and follow it down B to the A34 Congleton Road A.

A L

© Open StreetMap contributors.

South Cheshire Way Page 34 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 47 of 77 Mow Cop to Little Moreton Hall (A34) Distance: 4.7km. Turn left along Barthomley Road A to the top, and left at the T-junction for short distance. Then turn right B immediately after passing two properties on your right.

Cross a stile by the left-hand side of a black and white cottage, continue along a track and descend into a wooded area to cross a footbridge. P E + Climb up through trees on to Crewe Golf Course1, across which the route is marked 335m Mow Cop by occasional one metre high waymarked posts. Cross a fairway and pass through a + Wood P Hanging

© Open StreetMap contributors. StreetMap Open © belt of trees. The path line then inclines left, across several fairways, passing about Mow Cop Mow

F 100 metres to the left of a small building with a large clock on the front. It then crosses a track C about 100 metres right of the main clubhouse and just to the left of a Wood Quarry

Roe Park Roe small brick building (not seen until closer to) with large conifers immediately to the rear. From here it continues very slightly left of this line across the practice range. E At the far side, just left of a 300m marker, cross a foot plank and go through a kissing Farm Wood gate. Incline left to a further kissing gate partway along the left-hand hedge. Go D

Lane through and continue on the same line diagonally across the next field to yet another Yew Yew Tree kissing gate in the far corner. Ackers Crossing

Through this turn right along a track D, then go over a stile and through a small paddock just right of the track (or continue on the track if preferred) to exit at a cross roads. C

©Open StreetMap contributors. Turn right E across a cattle grid to enter a stone-paved courtyard in front of the black and white Haslington Hall2. B

Turn left alongside a pool on your right and follow the tarmac drive to reach Holmshaw Lane F. 1 A Hall Little Moreton

South Cheshire Way Page 46 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 35 of 77 Haslington Hall to Thurlwood Distance: 8.8km. Notes

School Farm

C

Bridgehouse Farm

Moss Cottages B

Barnfields Farm A

Woodside M Farm Haslington Hall © Open StreetMap contributors.

Go straight across Holmshaw Lane A to a stile.

Cross into a field, just to the right of Barnfields Farm. Continue in a straight line to a gate in the far left corner. Continue in the same direction to a further gate.

In the next larger field, continue in the same direction and keep to the right of the hedge when it commences. (Note the view in far distance, to the right at 2 o' clock, of

South Cheshire Way Page 36 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 45 of 77 Mow Cop and Castle where the South Cheshire Way ends).

Cross the stile just before the black and white Moss Cottages Farm and go through a small paddock, usually full of parked caravans, keeping to the left.

Pass to the left of a short length of shrubs and Leylandii hedge and through a gap opposite the front door of the farmhouse. Turn left, keeping left of the driveway, to cross a stile at the end of the premises.

Follow the hedge on the right to a gate at the angle of the drive. Cross the corner and bear right through a gate into a field. Walk close to a barbed wire fence on the right, through two more gates. After the second gate incline left for a short distance to a Walking west further gate B. Enter a large field and follow the hedge on left to stile on to a track. Cross this and walk with Bridgehouse Farm buildings just to the left. Keep in a straight line, with a from garden fence and then a hedge on the left, to cross a bridge over a stream in the field corner. Mow Cop Continue in the same direction, with a hedge now on the right. After crossing the next stile in the field corner, incline left to pass just left of a farm and houses at the top of the following field. Cross two stiles a short distance apart, beside the left-hand house, to Grindley Brook to arrive at Alsager Road C in the hamlet of Hassall. Turn right for a short distance, to a gate by the farmyard drive-way of School Farm on your left.

continued on next page >

South Cheshire Way Page 44 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 37 of 77 Haslington Hall to Thurlwood – continued. From the A34, go up the drive A, past Little Moreton Halll on the left, and through a E gate on the right by wooden outbuildings. Then follow the left-hand side of a field to two further gates. Through these, incline right across the field to the top right corner. 3 Cross a stile and follow the left-hand side of two fields, with a stile in between, and at the end turn right along a track. On approaching a canal bridge, turn right through two gates down a bank to the towpath B. Turn left under the bridge and follow the F H Thurlwood towpath to the next road bridge C. G © Open StreetMap contributors. Pass underneath, then immediately climb up to the road and go over the bridge. Just after a telephone box on the right, where the road bears right, take Yew Tree Lane (a cul-de-sac) on the left. Near the top, go through a gate on your right onto a path which 2 goes through a subway under the railway (Acker's Crossing) and rejoin the tarmac road for about 50 metres. Turn right at the fork D, up a track (signed Mow Cop 1¼ D miles).

At the next fork near Wood Farm, take the left-hand track. Shortly, bear right up to a field gate with a small gate to the left. Go into the field, taking a line just right of the electricity pole immediately ahead. Jubilee Villas C Head to the right-hand garden corner of a cottage in front and continue up the field, keeping a fence, later woodland and a stone wall, to the left, (very boggy near the

Bank E wall). At the top left corner, go through the gate into Hanging Wood and follow a Farm Hassall House well used path up through the wood to a gate at top. Cross into a field and continue Farm Jacob's uphill through this and another field keeping a stone wall on the right. Cottage B Go over a stile2 E immediately in front of a mast and bear slightly right up a track with a wall on the right. At the top, turn right at a track fork to keep a stone house on the left. At the end of fencing incline left towards a bungalow to go close to the 'Old Man of Mow'3 (a rock pillar).

Rejoin the main track and follow round to the left to reach a road4. Turn right and immediately left up a track. A path on the right will lead to the car park F, whilst 5 School continuing on will lead to steps up to Mow Cop Castle , with excellent views Farm N westwards over Cheshire and the route of the South Cheshire Way to the Welsh A Hassall Hall 1 borders. © Open StreetMap contributors.

South Cheshire Way Page 38 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 43 of 77 Little Moreton Hall (A34) to Mow Cop Distance: 4.7km. Go through the gate1 by the farmyard drive-way of School Farm A and shortly through another one, then bear left around a large silage clamp to a gate entering a field corner. Cross the field at a direction of 10 o'clock and descend the field bank to the bottom left-hand corner.

P Go through two kissing gates in quick succession. Cross the next field, keeping about E + 20 metres from the fence on the right (which follows the course of a stream), to a 335m Mow Cop kissing gate at a small spinney. Go through and left to a bridge over a stream and a + Wood P Hanging

© Open StreetMap contributors. StreetMap Open © stile, incline left across the next field at about 45 degrees up the bank, then head Mow Cop Mow

F towards a gate at the rear of a cottage. Cross this and descend the steps to pass the front of Jacob's Cottage B, then go ahead up a tarmac lane between Bank Farm and Wood Quarry

Roe Park Roe Hassall House Farm buildings on your right to the crossroads C.

E Continue straight ahead along a track towards a single row of houses (Jubilee Villas). Follow the track round to the left in front of the houses and then a hard surface path Farm Wood across a golf course (beware of flying golf balls!), to arrive at a canal bridge by a row D

Lane of white cottages and a canal lock at Malkin's Bank D. Yew Yew Tree Ackers Crossing Turn right before you cross the canal, passing through a gap in a wall, on to the Trent and Mersey canal2 towpath adjacent to the lock, and continue eastward (with the canal on your left) for a distance of 4.2km (passing under the M6 Motorway E)3. C Pass under the farm bridge (Chells Hill Bridge No 144) F and over the Chells Hill

©Open StreetMap contributors. Aqueduct No 143. B Just before Thurlwood Lock leave the canal at Becketts Bridge No 142 G (number carved into the centre of the bridge). Go under the bridge and turn right to cross the bridge and pass through the yard of A P Matthews Plant Nurseries to reach Sandbach Road (A533) H. 1 A Hall Little Moreton

South Cheshire Way Page 42 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 39 of 77 Thurlwood to Little Moreton Hall (A34) Distance: 4.9km. From the yard of A P Matthews Plant Nurseries on the A533 road A go slightly right and then cross the road on to a track across the plant nursery fields. Keep left when reaching a hedge (the track goes to the right of it) to arrive at a stile. Cross from the

F nursery grounds into a short meadow. Pass through a gap in a hedge ahead and gradually incline right across a long narrow field to the hedge bank on the right. Hall Little Moreton Follow this to a track at the top right of the field and continue along it to the A50 O E Newcastle Road B. Turn right along the footway for 50 metres, and cross the road

Farm with care. Cuttleford © Open StreetMap contributors. Turn left off the A50 up a track alongside a small brick cottage. Follow the track round past Forge Farm, then enter the first field on the right, just after a small pool.

Incline diagonally right across the field, keeping electricity poles just to the left, to go over a stile just left of the far field corner. Incline right to cross two close stiles into a

D tree planted area and follow the same diagonal line towards the corner of the buildings of Boden Hall.

C Exit through a gate and pass between the buildings, keeping a wall on the right, along a track to another gate into a field. Farm Pump Follow the left hand boundary, turning right at the top corner. Exit the field along a track for few metres before turning left into the next field, along another track beside a hedge on the left.

On leaving the field continue on this track, ignoring a track off to left after short Higher Smallwood Farm Smallwood Higher distance. The track then turns right and carries on to reach Chance Hall Lane C alongside Pump Farm. Hall Boden Turn left for 700 metres along the lane, and just after an S-bend turn right at a path signpost D. Follow the left-hand side of the field, then continue on between a hedge on the left and a small copse on the right. Bear left into a track connecting two fields.

At the start of the next field turn right towards glasshouses and a farmhouse, passing Farm Forge left of them to reach the A34 Congleton Road E.

B Turn right along the road for 230 metres along the footway and cross the road (beware of traffic) opposite the driveway of Little Moreton Hall (National Trust) F. Thurlwood A

South Cheshire Way Page 40 of 77 South Cheshire Way Page 41 of 77