2020 Rail Walks U in Ch eshire West PDATE A MID CHESHIRE COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP PUBLICATION The Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership and the Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association (MCRUA) welcome you to a collection of walks within the beautiful countryside of Cheshire West, which can be accessed by train. The circular walks start and finish at the stations of Mouldsworth, Delamere, Cuddington, Greenbank, Northwich and Lostock Gralam. The walks vary in length and landscape from Train services on the Mid Cheshire Line run rural to semi-urban walks. All offer options for hourly Monday through to Saturday and two rest and refreshments. There are no toilet hourly on Sundays. Northern Timetable 17 facilities on these walks, but each route features features all the train times for the Mid Cheshire at least one public house or café offering a range Line and can be downloaded from of snacks and meals as well as toilets. www.midcheshirerail.org.uk All walks relate to OS Explorer Map, sheet 267, For bus services phone Traveline on scale 1:25,000. 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.traveline.info Not all walks are suitable for those with You can also contact Cheshire West and Chester pushchairs, wheelchairs or mobility scooters as Council on 0300 123 8 123 or visit they often feature several stiles and kissing www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk gates as well as uneven ground in places. The Mid Cheshire Community For details of further walks within Cheshire, of Rail Partnership can be contacted at which some are suitable for all abilities, search www.midcheshirerail.org.uk “Walking in Cheshire” at visitcheshire.com or email [email protected] A559 B5393 B5152 GREGREENBAGREENBANNKK NORTHWICHORTHWICH LOSLOSTOTOCCKK CCUDUDDDINGTONINGTON GRALGRALAMAM A556 MOUMOULDSWORTHLDSWORTH HHARARTTFORDFORD SSANANDIWAYDIWAY A556 DEELAMERELAMERE A533 KKELSALLELSALL A49 A54 A54 Information on the maps is shown as follows: Major roads Railway line Suggested route Other roads Railway station Whilst every effort has been made to make the walk details as comprehensive as possible, no responsibility can be taken for any changes to the routes or facilities which occur after the publication of this booklet. (March 2020) The maps within this booklet are derived from original Ordnance Survey maps. © Crown Copyright and database right 2020. Ordnance Survey 100049046. 2 Walking in the countryside Use a map and follow walk Leave gates as you find them Keep dogs under close control directions and path markers. or follow instructions on but, if a farm animal chases Do not cross fields of crops signs. If walking in a group, you and your dog, it is safer to unless following the make sure the last person let your dog off the lead – designated footpath. knows how to leave the don’t risk getting hurt by Litter and leftover food gates. trying to protect it. doesn't just spoil the beauty Wild animals and farm Keep out of the way when of the countryside, it can be animals can behave farm animals are being dangerous to wildlife and unpredictably if you get too gathered or moved and follow farm animals and can spread close, especially if they’re with directions from the farmer. disease - so take your litter their young – so give them Support the rural economy - home with you. Dropping plenty of space and do not for example, buy your litter and dumping rubbish attempt to approach them or supplies from local shops. are criminal offences. stroke them. Mid Cheshire Rail Users The Mid Cheshire Line Association (MCRUA) The line links the cities of Manchester and The Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association with Chester running through the scenic Mid over 400 members is the rail user group for the Cheshire countryside. There are 16 stations Mid Cheshire Line. MCRUA is active in along the line including Delamere, representing the interests of passengers on the Northwich, Plumley, Knutsford, Mobberley, Mid Cheshire Line from Chester to Manchester Ashley, Altrincham and Stockport. and those travelling between Crewe and The line has a Community Rail Partnership Liverpool on the West Coast Main Line. They founded in 2003 to promote increased work to improve the service and its usage, and usage and to develop and improve provide information on timetable changes and facilities along the route. Enthusiastic news on future developments. volunteers are always welcome to get For more information on MCRUA activities or involved at stations and events along joining the group, please look at the line. www.mcrua.org.uk . To find out more about the Mid Cheshire If you can’t find what you are looking for then Community Rail Partnership and the email [email protected] for more opportunities for travelling on the Mid information. Cheshire Line, go to www.midcheshirerail.org.uk. 3 Mouldsworth Rail Trail Route This walk takes you through the green pastures of Mouldsworth and past the former Mouldsworth Motor Museum. The museum, which is now closed, was housed in the former water softening plant of the West Cheshire Water Board, built in 1937 but eventually rendered unnecessary by the alternative source of Welsh water from Lake Vyrnwy. DISTANCE: 3.5km, allow 1 to 1½ hours STILES: Three MAP: OS Explorer Map, sheet 267, KISSING GATES: One scale 1: 25,000 ACCESS: This particular route is not GROUND CONDITIONS: The walk is accessible by wheelchair. across gently undulating Cheshire REFRESHMENTS: The Goshawk pub pastures with some surfaced lanes and opposite the station offers food and a hill to climb at the end. drink. Then: The route 2. Turn right up the hill on Station 1. Starting from: Road. After passing the three Mouldsworth Station detached houses on the left ending alighting from trains from with ‘Fir Bank’, turn left onto the Delamere or other stations signposted Public Footpath that towards Manchester: crosses the paddock and fields. Leave the platform and walk into the car park and take the steps that lead up from the corner next to the Old Station House onto Station Road opposite the Goshawk Public House. Or: Mouldsworth Station alighting from trains from Chester: Leave the platform and follow the path up to Station Road. 4 3 B593 W e ll MOULDSWORTH L a n e Rose Bank 2 4 Farm e n La y h Mouldswor th i t Hall Sm Goshawk PH 1 Mouldsworth d a o R 11 Popla rgrove n re o e i m t la d Farm a e a t D Ro S Ston e House 10 Farm Former Long Motor Wood N Museum 9 orton ’s Lane Bank d oa Farm The R g e Roo kery an Gr G o n g a r L a 8 Brook n Lodge Ho use e 7 Ashton Brook 6 d 5 a Cricket o R Ground h c r u St. John’s h Chu rch C School 3. After a short while the path joins the track that passes in front of ‘Rose Bank Farm’. Don’t enter. Walk down the track away from Rose Bank and continue down the track until you meet Smithy Lane. Turn left here on to Smithy Lane. 5 4. Eventually Smithy Lane crosses a 5. Continue along Gongar Lane past bridge over the route of the now ‘Brook House’ until at the bottom of disused Mouldsworth to Manley and the hill, just after crossing a small Helsby Junction line of the Cheshire stream called “Ashton Brook”, turn Lines Committee. The lane now left over the stile onto the signposted moves out into more open country public footpath which forms part of and eventually slopes gently down the Baker Way, the 13 mile path that past the entrance to Mouldsworth runs between the railway stations of Hall. Soon the entrance to the now Delamere and Chester. closed Mouldsworth Motor Museum 6. Cross another stile and keep the will be passed on the left. hedge on your left. Up and to the right can be seen the spire of the grade II listed St. John the Evangelist Church, Ashton Hayes. Having passed the ex-museum, Smithy Lane continues down the hill and curving to the left at the junction with Norton’s Lane becomes Gongar Lane. Gongar Lane then turns to pass back under the Mid Cheshire Line which crosses by a tall stone and brick arch bridge with black iron 7. Carry on to and through a tight reinforcing plates. kissing gate then follow the path as it bears right on a hedge line to a kissing gate that exits onto Church Road. Care!! Fast traffic. Cross the road and turn left onto Church Road. 8. Ahead can be glimpsed the newly planted wood that is being created on the side of the slope. Don’t take Grange Road. 6 9. Continue on Church Road climbing 11. Soon after in the distance can be gradually to a road junction where seen the sign for Mouldsworth proceed left. railway station, the end of the walk, but for those with an appetite or 10. Continue up the steep hill, on the left thirst then The Goshawk provides an the small but distinctive shape of ideal wayside halt. Opposite the pub Saint Cuthbert-By-The-Forest is the station car park with the Catholic Church opened in 1957 can Station House now being the home be seen. to Whistles Hair and Beauty Salon. VISITOR INFORMATION The Goshawk Food is served every day Whistles Hair and Open Tuesday Tel: 01928 740900 from midday to 9pm Beauty Salon to Saturday (8pm on Sundays) Old-Ticket Office Dogs welcome in the pub Mouldsworth garden and bar area. Station Tel: 01928 740747 7 Delamere Rail Trail Walk Route This walk skirts the edge of Delamere Forest and takes walkers up “Old Pale” – a steep hill with fine views across the Cheshire plain.