Frodsham and The River Weaver

Introduction

It’s been a wet week, so I chose a location and route that I hoped wouldn’t be too muddy.

Today’s weather was quite good, plenty of sunshine, cloudy spells, and one brisk shower. It was breezy out on the marsh.

It’s a 35 minute drive to Frodsham from Cheadle Hulme.

The walk is 8.7 miles, and, after a steep uphill start, it’s easy walking. I took 3hours 45 minutes, plus 15 minutes for lunch, but it could be done quicker, as I meandered, and investigated several places along the way.

This is an extremely varied walk with a formal park, ancient woods, sandstone caves, farmland, rivers, canals, industrial heritage, and modern industrial landmarks.

It’s a fantastic walk for dogs who like to run off the lead. There’s woodland, farm tracks, and fenced off paths and tracks around the marsh.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 267.

I parked at the Castle Park Car Park, Frodsham, use postcode WA6 6SB. There are toilets at the pavilion cafe.

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Castle Park To Beacon Hill

Castle Park is a town park with family attractions, and a fine hall, now an Arts Centre.

From the car park, I wandered across the lawns and then began to climb uphill, and soon left the park to rise with a field and trees to one side and housing to my left.

Soon, the views to the Mersey estuary appeared.

After briefly joining the Sandstone Trail, I continued ahead up the steep steps.

I went on around the headland, with teasing views through the trees.

I found an opportunity to clamber up to the top path, from where I made my way to the impressive hilltop memorial, from where the views are stunning.

The distant views are magnificent, but so is the woodland itself.

The verdant countryside and views now to the east continued to impress.

I’d hoped there would be a path up Beacon Hill, but there wasn’t. Undeterred, I clambered once again! I found the beacon to be a phone mast above a sandstone quarry, with an unexpected owl carving.

Beacon Hill To Frodsham Cut

I made my way down to the road, familiar as it is the route in to Frodsham Golf Club. The countryside is quite open and rolling here.

Leaving the road, I loved this ancient sign. Not sure what it meant though!

A well marked path led on across this area, and up ahead, I was surprised to see ……caves in the sandstone cliffs.

This appeared to be man-made, but I’m not sure. It was quite deep, and a place clearly used by people who hang out!

Moving on, the next section of the walk was across mixed farmland, and it rained quite hard as I made my way slowly downhill.

Once the rain stopped, it was very pleasant.

Before long, I reached the water’s edge of the serene Frodsham Cut, where a bench had been provided, so a perfect spot for lunch.

Frodsham Cut To Castle Park

Lunch was delightful, there being much birdlife to enjoy. I was very surprised to be watching a house martin circling around, along with familiar birds such as coots on the water, greenfinches in the hedges, and buzzards overhead,

Moving on, I had a brief meeting with civilisation, crossing the A56 at the road bridge, and witnessing a train cross the viaduct.

It was deserted as I passed below the M56.

After briefly entering and leaving a football field, the path led into open country with views to Frodsham Hill and Helsby Hill beyond, with the huge chemical works across on the opposite bank of The Weaver.

The huge wind turbines were now in sight, making use of this exposed site.

The OS Maps are good, but the vast expanse of water I expected to see over the embankment on my left has long gone, as it now looks thus:

I turned right at The Lum. The paths here are overgrown with very tall reeds.

I decided that a video would capture the environment and atmosphere quite well.

There was just time for a last photo taken up the Weaver to Weston Marsh Lock, where it merges with the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn leads past Ellesmere Port to Eastham Docks and then the open sea of the Mersey Estuary.

I was on the home straight now, and walked on below a couple of massive wind turbines, from where I could admire the first section of my walk , to the Memorial, high on the hill.

This is a superb walk for anyone who loves the variations in sights that our country can offer, all in the space of a few hours!

And Finally….

Marcus Mumford, frontman of Mumford and Sons, has released a self-titled solo album. I particularly enjoyed this track, Better Off High.

2 Comments

  1. Brian Duckworth said:

    Not been on north side of A56 ,looks to have some potential and interest for us Flat Earthers ! Will give it a go

    7 October 2022
    • Graham Roberts said:

      Yes, it’s very flat, always windy, feels remote, but also rather interesting.

      7 October 2022

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