Mobberley And Ollerton, Near Knutsford

Introduction

So, January has thrown up some proper snowy winter weather! Too risky to attempt a journey to the hills.

In fact it took me an hour and a half to do 10 miles in the car to reach the start of this walk.

This is a walk of 9 miles on generally flat terrain.

It took 3 hours 15 minutes, plus 20 minutes for lunch.

The walk is good for dog walking though in spring and summer there would be more livestock in the fields.

I parked on the road outside The Bulls Head, postcode is WA16 7HX.

I walked clockwise.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 268.

Mobberley To Ollerton

As I set off past Dam Head Farm, it was a picture postcard scene.

The quiet tracks were equally stunning.

And so too, the open fields.

The area has numerous stunning farmhouse and mansion projects – lots of money round here.

I crossed Pedley Brook, and followed the track towards Ryecroft Farm.

There were numerous animal visitors before me.

I crossed a couple of fields, where the melting snow was joining the pools formed in recent rainfall.

I joined a pretty minor road near Ollerton Hall.

Ollerton To Booths Hall

At the end of the lane, I joined further snowy tracks between the fields. On Seven Sisters Lane, I was briefly challenged by some quite heavy traffic.

I was flad to reach Moss Wood, and was soon approaching the more inviting Windmill Wood.

This is a lovely, quiet wood.

I may be no fan of the swathes of rhododendrons, but there was no denying the beauty of the snowy picture here.

I stopped awhile and ate my lunch, then reached the misty woodland edge.

I was now on the edge of Knutsford, and admired the huge houses all along Goughs Lane. How many people live in these places, I wondered?

After the A537, I passed through the ubiquitous edge of town business park at Booths Hall. I wasn’t sorry to leave it behind me.

Back To Ollerton

There was more open farmland to cross. I stopped to admire this camouflaged “dalmatian horse”!

And these sheep with another rebuilt farmhouse behind. There are windows on both sides of the house, with a huge chandelier in the centre.

Approaching Mobberley, I enjoyed the views over the pools.

And arriving back at the car, I couldn’t resist enjoying a pint of the Bulls Head ruby bitter, brewed by Weetwoods. delicious!

This is a flat farmland walk, and to be honest, would be fairly boring, but for the spectacular snow scenes I found here today!

And Finally….

Gaz Coombes, former lead singer of Supergrass, has a new album out, called Turn The Car Around.

This is “Long Live The Strange”.