Chelford and Jodrell Bank

Introduction

I decided that I would stick to low level winter walking today, and headed a short distance to Chelford.

The weather was great for walking – cloudy, quiet, and relatively warm for the time of year. It wasn’t so great for photography!

It’s a 25 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme to Chelford.

This is easy flat walking, but 9.5 miles long still left me quite tired by the end.

It took 4 hours, plus 15 minutes for lunch.

The walk is OK for dog walking, but there are some roads, and field stretches that will sometimes hold livestock.

I parked on the road, at the end of Pepper Street, near to The Egerton Arms Chophouse, postcode SK11 9BB.

I walked anti-clockwise.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map268.

Snelson To Jodrell Bank

I set off down Pepper Street. There are some seriously expensive properties here.

After turning left at Snelson, I was soon heading into a landscape typical of the area – copses with ponds.

Then, into open country where I caught my first glimpse of the Lovell telescope.

The route criss-crosses the West Coast mainline here. First, I found my way through this slightly eerie low tunnel.

Leaving Peover Lane, I came to the second tunnel crossing.

Knee deep in animal faeces – no thanks. I diverted to the road bridge!

I often used to drive this way to and from my job in Northwich, but I’d never noticed this gate and lovely old cottage.

The third rail crossing was uneventful, and I was soon heading down to Bate Mill which looked interesting but somewhat dilapidated.

Peering in, I could just about see the old water wheel still in situ.

It certainly looks like a major renovation project!

After a bridge and a short rise I crossed the fields and arrived almost at the entrance to Jodrell Bank. Shame it was looking the other way!

Quarrying Country

I took a short walk down the busy A 535 and then a path through a pleasant wood. The path rises to reveal a landscape dotted with flooded former quarries.

At Dairy House Farm, only dereliction remains.

The open fields of maize stubble soon revealed views to the hills in the east above Macclesfield. Unmistakably Shutlingsloe and Sutton Mast.

Then there’s another flooded quarry, one that is just off the main A535, and isn’t on the map which records is “Sand Pit”, near to Withington Hall.

The next lake is beautiful and the hill near Congleton, The Cloud, rises in the background.

The route now enters a heathlike wooded area. This caravan has seen better days.

So far, the lakes had been strictly private areas. So it was nice to come across this one.

This is a place for a specific future visit.

I crossed a minor road and made my way down to Snape Brook.

The shallow valley is dotted with pools and a very twisty, meandering stream.

I found a log on which to sit by the water to take a lunch break.

At the twin farms East and West Astle, I was delighted by the sound of a loudly singing song thrush – giving it full throstle you might say! This is my first of the year, and a sure sign that spring is on the way.

After crossing the A537, the route passes two further large flooded quarries.

The first was home to a fish hunting cormorant.

It also had an island which was holding numerous Canada geese and lapwings, plus a pair of oystercatchers.

The second one revealed the day’s first hint of sunshine.

From here, it was a pleasant stroll back under the railway and around the village to the car.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this walk, and how little of the route I had missed by regularly speeding though the area in the car. It’s well worth exploring!

And Finally….

Margo Price has country music roots, but her new album, Strays, has a lot more to offer.

This is Been To The Mountain.