The River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal

Saturday 30 April 4.5 miles

Donna, Jane + Hilary

The weather was forecast to be ok in the morning, but there had been a cool wind the day before so it was hard to decide how many layers to wear.

We parked on the roadside just off the A49 by a building that was being worked on and Hilary said it had been a pub at one time. We started off with our fleeces and coats on. Donna had done this walk before with her daughter.

We passed the Leigh Arms and we went down to the river by the Acton Swing Bridge turning left to follow the River Weaver. The path goes past the Grange rowing club buildings.

We looked across the river at the Caravan Park it was busy with a few tourers as well as the statics. There are also lots of cottages, just below Sandy Lane. I wonder how busy and noisy the road is. They have a nice outlook over the river and the fields.

The fields looked lovely in the sunshine. There was a house up on the hill and I thought it might have some good views. We crossed the foot bridge where the river semms to split in two.

The Saltersford Locks are huge, you can imagine the river busy with very large boats carrying salt down to the River Mersey and bringing coal to the salt works to evaporate the brine.

The Lockkeepers Cottages looked pretty and the middle terraced one was for sale, it looked like a typical 2 up 2 down house. We tried to guess the price from what we could see and thought it might be about £250,000 - £300,000, but we were no where near as it is on the market for £375,000.

We walked up the hill away from the river to the canal. At the top of the hill we passed a smartly dressed couple obviously not out walking and we thought they might be going to see the house.

We walked further along the canal and came to the Saltersford Tunnel. You can't walk through the tunnel, but I could hear a boat chugging away and eventually I saw the boat emerging. In the past, the only way to move the boat through the tunnel was to 'walk' the narrow boats along the by using your legs and feet whilst lying on the boats roof.

The path then went up to be level with the top of the tunnel with plenty of trees along it. We managed to get a view through a gap in the trees down the valley. 

Then I realised that the white house I had seen from below, by the river, was probably the house at the end of the tunnel,

There was a bench at the end of the tunnel so we had our lunch at 11.45am - too early!! As we sat eating our lunch the pink blossom was falling off the tree onto the canal water and it looked very pretty.

We continued walking along the canal it was lovely with the trees, a couple of bridges and the blue sky. We passed some cows in the field on the other side of the canal, most of them were lying down, there was  just one looking through the trees at us.

Gradually we began to notice the noise of the road so we knew we were nearly at the car. Rather than going down the main road we tucked down a pathway back to where we had parked.

It was lovely to get out in the sunshine.

We went to The Green Kitchen off Bartington Hall Lane, and had tea and cake (carrot and lemon cake)  and a hot chocolate.

 

 

Sandiway to Acton Bridge

Saturday 26 June 2021 6 miles

Jane, Tracey, Donna, Hilary + Carol

A lovely varied walk through the Cheshire countryside. Sunshine was forecast, there was some cloud and at times the wind was cool.

We met at Cuddington and Sandiway Village Hall, the car park was nearly full. There were plenty of activities going on, fitness, football, tennis and the playground was busy.

We set off down Norley Road admiring the houses we passed. It was quiet walking down Smithy Lane, with occassional views over the countryside. We thought it would be hard to cross the A49 but the traffic happened to clear as we got there so we crossed easily.

New gates and new fences and a hole in the hedge for us to go through. There were horses in the fields, as well as someone riding a horse in the exercise area.

The first part of the walk was easy to follow as we could see the stiles across the fields which were small. Then the grass and weeds especially nettles were very high, taller than me, so it was harder to see very far ahead.

As we passed through the countryside, crossing the stiles there were sheep in some of the fields.

Finding a way to access the path to cross the railway line was difficult. We worked it out in the end and had to fight our way through the growth.

We walked passed the station at Acton Bridge and continued on the road. Then walked down Stanfield Lane rather than go through the field where there was a bull, although he was more interested in the cows and not anywhere near us.

Lunch sitting in a field. The cloud came over as we sat there

Checked we were going the right way as we had just followed the paths across the fields.

There were lovely views as we skirted Delamere park

Blakemere for tea and scones.

The Trent & Mersey Canal and the River Weaver

Saturday 3 September 2011 8 miles 
Donna, Jane, Tracey, Hilary

The forecast was for rain so we were expecting to get wet, we had our waterproofs with us. It was a bit cloudy but there was no rain until later.

We started at the Anderton Boat Lift on the Trent and Mersey Canal, A couple of boats had just come up the lift and were coming out onto the canal. 

We walked along the canal, as there are a couple of tunnels along this stretch that do not have a foot path we walked along the path above. We stopped when we came to a bench and had a snack (too early for lunch!)

We left the canal where there was a footpath across a field and joined the River Weaver at Acton Bridge. The rowing club was at the river side.

We had lunch sitting by the river.

There was lots of fruit growing alongside the river. We picked and ate some!

Had tea and cake in the cafe at the Anderton Boat Lift Centre at a window table.

A walk from Acton Bridge

Saturday June 26

Donna, Hilary, Jane, Tracey

We parked the car at the Maypole in Acton Bridge, then walked to the the swing bridge and joined the river, there were people rowing on the river (possibly from the Grange).

River Weaver - There were quite a few boats on the river.
The river was covered in algae especially near the locks.

The Dutton locks are huge - there was a boat coming through, the lock keeper waited for us to cross over before opening the gates.

The Dutton viaduct over the Weaver is a long row of arches.

Sat on the verge under some trees for lunch - it was quite a warm day.

Tracey bitten by flies, not good as she had put repellent on!

We were ready for a drink when we got back to the pub. We had a drink, tart and icecream.