This month I’ve enjoyed celebrating the season, particularly getting out and about locally.
During the first lockdown we broke out the Ordnance Survey maps to get off the beaten track and we’ve been exploring Cheshire’s trails since. My husband gifted me one of the custom OS maps and I’ve been highlighting what we’ve completed, attempting to make shorter circular walks that cover sections of the longer trails. It looks like we’re doing quite well on both the Longster Trail and the Baker Way, with just a couple of bits to finish around Manley, Christleton and Tarvin.
I also finally got around to ordering a couple of walking guides from the Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society, covering the Delamere Way (21 miles, Frodsham to Stockton Heath) and the North Cheshire Way (70 miles, Wirral to the Peak District). I doubt we’ll get much of those completed for a while but it never hurts to have the resources.
Despite the mud and occasional flooding, we’ve actually found it much easier to hit the trails in autumn and winter once the thorns and nettles have died back. Fly-tipping and intentional blocking of footpaths can still be an issue for access but we try to report these to the local council and do our bit to keep public rights of way open.
We’ve made some wonderful memories walking in Cheshire over the last few years, weaving past swallows as they dip into the River Gowy, seeing hares traverse the fields, dodging feisty horses in the mist, encountering Tom Bombadil and repeatedly getting lost! For cheap thrills and some healthy headspace, you can’t beat a good walk.