Rawhead

Saturday 15 July 2017 5.5 miles
Hilary, Jane + Carol

We parked by the Church  in Harthill went passed the cookery school and along Garden Lane. We then climbed the hill, at the top we chatted for quite a while, appreciated the view and the blue sky. There were people boarding on the hill below us.

Eventually we continued the walk and went through the trees crossed the road and continued to Rawhead. We sat on the bench admiring the view and talking, we decided we might as well have lunch even though it was a bit early. We continued chatting as it was a really nice place to stop.

We continued down through the woods, and passed Chiflik Farm, a really pretty sandstone building with an unusual name. We walked to the A534 and Gallantry Bank, and on to Bickerton Church leaving the road here to climb up to Bickerton Hill. From the hills we could see the views over the Cheshire countryside.

At the top we followed the main path but when I looked at the directions we needed to drop down the side of the hill, we found the path and continued. round to Brown Knowl and back to the A534. We started up the hill on the other side of the road, it seemed to go up a long way. 

Tarporley

Sunday 8 June 7.5miles
Jane, Tracey. Donna and Hilary


On our way we got caught in the traffic going to The British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park so rather than attempting to travel along the A49 we drove round to the A51 and to Tarporley.

We parked in Tarporley behind the Rising Star pub.

In walking over the golf course we had to keep an eye out for golfers. Fortunately the golf course wasn't too busy.

There is quite a contrast with the golf course when we got to the A49 as the traffic seemed very fast and noisy, it took a little time to cross the road. As we went downhill away from the road the long grass was wet, and there were plenty of nettles. The warm and damp weather had made everything grow well. Hilary wore her shorts so her legs must have been stung as she walked through the nettles!

When we got to the the Sandstone trail we sat and had lunch.

There was plenty of mud!! I suppose so many people had walked the route that the surface was semi-liquid making it hard to walk in. Once our boots were covered with mud we certainly had a job to walk, also the path was narrow in places so we couldn't avoid walking through the mud. Donna had worn her lighter shoes so had a task in trying to avoid the mud!

There was a little rain in the air as we went over the fields near the end of the walk, but fortunately nothing came of it.

We went to the Old Fire Station for tea and cake, we sat outside in the courtyard as the sun came out again.

The rain started as we drove back in the car

Really rained once home, so we were lucky.

Sandstone Trail with a Difference

September 17 2006 12 Miles
Jane (drove), Tracey, Donna, Hilary

Ranger guided walk.
John Street led the walk, the rangers are hoping to make this route a part of the Sandstone Trail.By walking the ridge there are some pretty good views, I think this is what makes the walk more interesting than the other route.

The guide stopped to give us bits of information, but we didn't have proper rests like we did on the Gritstone Trail.

We stopped for lunch on a ridge where you could see for miles, especially as the sun was shining at this point.

A bit of a mixed day weather wise, sunny and rainy. But it was rather warm, especially when the rain started on the climb near the end!