A Minshull Meander

Wednesday 6 Aug 5.25 miles

Donna, Jane and Hilary 

A Cheshire Life walk from 2024 

From the Badger pub we turned left, then right at the roundabout on to Cross Lane and across the bridge over the River Weaver. At a sign reading ‘Woodmeadow’ we turned right past the cottage  into riverside fields. We couldn't see the River Weaver as there was so much balsam growing. We followed the path through the trees and went over a couple of footbridges. 

The path led upwards towards the canal and in places there were open sections which gave views of the countryside. Just near a canal bridge we climbed a stile on the left to join the Shropshire Union Canal towpath, and we turned left here. We saw only a few boats on the canal, we thought the Trent and Mersey Canal from Middlewich to Kidsgrove being closed due to low water was the reason there were fewer boats than you would normally see in the summer. We passed under Cross Lane at bridge 14, and went past Minshull Wharf, a former canal warehouse and cottage with exotic gables.  We continued along the towpath bridges 15, 16 and 18, and there were plenty of blackberries growing here. 

At bridge 19, we went under the arch then climbed the steep bank to a gate. Here we turned right and headed across the field. On the far side we crossed a stile in the hedge and crossed the next field to a metal gate by a cattle trough. We followed the edge of the wood, over another stile to the River Weaver and followed it for a short distance to a concrete footbridge.The river didn't look very deep.

We decided to stop here for lunch finding some shade under a tree. There had been animals in this field as there were dung heaps in places so we had to find a clear space. At the gate at the bottom of a hedged farm track we thought the gate was locked to start with until Hilary realised that the chain holding the gate could be unlocked. We followed the track up out of the valley and onto the road. The road continued past Lea Green Villa Farm. Fortunately we ignored the fingerpost by the entrance to Lea Green Hall, as when we got to the main road we discovered the path was closed. 

We continued along the lane past Home Farm mobile home park. There was a man strimming the long grass by the entrance, he made a comment about 'the good, the bad and the ugly' as there were three of us, but I don't to whom of us he was referring!!! 

At the B5074, we turned left and followed the road with care for the mile back to Church Minshull, we tried to walk quite quickly but stepped onto the verge as the cars went by. We were able to step off the road onto a grass path by some houses and then we used the pavements. At the roundabout we turned right past the church back to the Badger. 

We went to the Aqueduct Marina and the Waterfront Café for tea, coffee and a yoghurt covered flapjack, water and icecream. The marina has created a lovely covered outside space where we sat.

 

Walk from Carol's House

Saturday 31 October 6.5 miles
Carol, Donna, Jane and Hilary

Added the walk from Middlewich to the Aqueduct Marina, so Hilary added 6.5 miles, Jane added over 7 Miles. There was warm weather this week so we thought it wasn't going to rain so we could walk to Carol's house.

The incident of the cow

Carol and Donna met us on the canal near to the Aqueduct Marina then we walked to Church Minshull. 

Lunch at The Badger

There is a large field with no obvious path across it so we walked all the way around it. Some people were waking their dogs so I asked them where the path was likely to be, the man pointed back towards the trees. Carol found the little bridge as we walked back, it was a bit hidden from view, walking around the field added a good half a mile of walking!!

walk over the fields and along lanes to Aston-juxta-Mondrum

Cows in the field

A cup of tea at Carol's - very welcome

Church Minshull

Saturday 6 October 6.5 miles
Donna, Tracey, Jane + Hilary

A grey day  but no rain - it was a little brighter later.

A local walk just for Donna as she didn't want to drive too far!

We decided not to park at the Badger, so we found a place a bit further along the road.
There was a cool wind as we started, we soon warmed up as we began to walk.

We turned off the B5074 on to Cross Lane, across the River Weaver and further up the road went on to the Shropshire Union Canal. There were a few boat travelling this stretch of water. We passed what had been an old stable block that has been turned into a home. It looked very attractive with the red brick and the old stable doors stained black with black metal furniture. 

As we walked along the canal we were not far from the west coast line so we could see the a goods train and passenger trains travelling along the line. 

We went under three bridges and then started across the fields. We followed the edge of a wood that curved around the river, but we couldn't see it. Then we came to our first field of maize so we had to walk along through it until we reached the old bridge with metal gates with latches and crossed The Weaver.

Lunch sitting near a stile by Paradise Green Farm, with the jersey cows looking over the gate.

The thistles in the field were very prickly and plenty of them! There were sheep in this field.

We crossed the plank bridge but were faced with maize growing in the field, we couldn't find a path across it. We went around the field edge alongside the edge of the maize, but that left us in the wrong place. We followed the track, but still couldn't find the path across the next field.  A couple were burning plant material behind the barn conversions in Church Minshull.

Minshulls Garden Centre for tea/latte and cake (we all had toffee, pecan and cranberry cake!)