The Blue Bridge

Saturday 13 April 4 Miles

Donna, Tracey and Jane

We were hoping for some sunny weather for a change - but of course it was raining as we started off.

We parked on the car park just off the A566 by the Blue Bridge that goes over the River Weaver. We did wonder whether to put on our waterproof trousers but it seemed to have stopped raining so we didn't.

Following Vale Royal Drive we walked through the woods. After about half a mile, we passed under the Vale Royal railway viaduct. We stayed on the drive goin passed Vale Royal Abbey, beyond the main house we followed the road passed the gabled former stables on the left. We picked up a track that continued ahead through a gate. Ignoring crossing paths, we followed the track towards Whitegate village.

At Sutton Field we turned into Church Wood, owned by the Woodland Trust. We went right at the noticeboard and followed the main path, ignoring turnings to right and left. There were people working in the woods cutting down trees and sawing the branches. At the wall we turned left by a footpath sign. Along this path we met more people cutting down trees, they were volunteers working for the Woodland Trust. Donna knew one of the men in the group as she had happened be on holiday in the same place as he was a few years ago. we continued to the end of the path then turned right onto St Mary’s Drive.

There was a path which we had to look out for which went between the houses to a gate and onto the golf course. There people playing golf so we had to be careful and look out for the crossing of paths an look out for the yellow waymark. We walked by a pond trying to make sure we stayed on the waymarked path. Almost immediately, we turned right into Rookery Wood and dropped downhill using the steps to a footbridge.We followed the path to the far side of the wood, it was a bit muddy in places, especialy just at the place where we were to leave the wood.

We followed the path diagonally across the field, there were small plants growing in the field but in some places where there had been puddles nothing was growing. Then we followed the path through the woods back to Vale Royal Drive, and at the gate turned right  to continue to cross the two bridges over Vale Royal Locks. Turning left on the far bank and, beyond the locks.  As we walked along the river the rain started again, so we did get a bit wet. We passed under the railway viaduct again and continued along the riverside path for half a mile back to Blue Bridge.  Here we took the path up to the road and walked over the Blue Bridge back to the car. 

We travelled along the A556 to Blakemere and sat in the car and had our sandwiches. We had a wander around looking at the antiques. Then had tea and coffee, and Donna had a scone, and Tracey was disappointed that they had run out of the cake she wanted.

 

The Roaches and Lud's Church

Wednesday 13 March 6.25 miles

Jane, Tracey, Donna and Hilary.

The weather was not very promising as it had been raining alot! I thought the ground might be a bit drier being high up - but it wasn't!

We parked in one of the laybys on Roach Road. Then we walked quite a long way along Roach Road. There highland cows in a field by the entrance to a farm, so we crossed the cattle grid and took some photos.

After passing a lane on our left we continued on Clough Head Lane until we got to a gate across the road and then we turned off. The green track we joined wasn't too bad to start with but when we got to the gate it was very muddly and wet. It was easier to climb over the gate than try to open it.

Where there was a crossing point in the paths we found shelter from the wind by a wall and had some lunch (before 12 o'clock!). We went down the hill towards the trees, and turned at the sign for Lud's Church. There were plenty of boards to walk on here.

Lud's Church is a deep chasm and has loads of steep steps so we had to be careful.

The return woodland path was very muddy, and we had to negiate every part of it, the path was being made wider and wider just to try and stay out of the puddles and find some drier parts. The rain started as we were going through the woods.

We could hear children playing as we climbed up from the woods to the road. We decided it might be a school, we could see a couple of children playing football with an adult. it is marked on the map as a school.

As we walked up to Roach End we could see the clouds were swirling over the Ridge so we decided to return by the lower road, we took Clough Head Lane. We could see Tittesworth Reservoir in the distance, the optical illusion made it seem closer than it actually was, so I kept wondering if we were on the right road. 

We missed out on walking the Roaches which was a shame.

Having returned to the car we went to the Roaches Tea Room and had 3 teas and bakewell tarts and 1 coffee and a rocky road, as the rocky road was quite large half of it went home!

 

Year Eighteen Summary

Walk 1: March 25 2023 Pickmere Radio Telescope 6.3 miles Tracey and Jane

Walk 2: April 30 2023 Wedgwood's Monument 6 miles Jane, Tracey, Donna and Hilary 

Walk 3: May 28 2023 Redesmere 6 miles Hilary, Donna, Tracey and Jane

Walk 4: June 11 2023 Goostrey 4.5 miles Carol, Hilary, Tracey, Jane and Donna

Walk 5: Sept 2 2023 Tabley Estate and Holford Moss 6.2 miles Tracey, Jane and Hilary 

Walk 6: Oct 14 2023 4.5 miles Petty Pool and the Whitegate Way Jane and Hilary

Walk 7: Nov 11 2023 Donna’s Walk Donna, Tracey and Hilary

Walk 8: Dec 9 2023 5 miles Marbury Park and The Canal Jane, Tracey, Donna and Hilary

Walk 9: Jan 17 2024 Tatton Park 6 miles Hilary, Tracey and Jane

Walk 10: Feb 17 2024 Sandbach Flashes and the River Wheelock. 6 Miles Tracey, Jane and Hilary.