{"id":1006357,"date":"2022-10-06T19:22:42","date_gmt":"2022-10-06T18:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1006357"},"modified":"2022-11-04T11:39:19","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T11:39:19","slug":"frodsham-and-the-river-weaver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1006357","title":{"rendered":"Frodsham and The River Weaver"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s been a wet week, so I chose a location and route that I hoped wouldn’t be too muddy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

It\u2019s a 35 minute drive to Frodsham from Cheadle Hulme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 267.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked at the Castle Park Car Park, Frodsham, use postcode WA6 6SB. There are toilets at the pavilion cafe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Castle Park To Beacon Hill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Castle Park is a town park with family attractions, and a fine hall, now an Arts Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon, the views to the Mersey estuary appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n

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After briefly joining the Sandstone Trail, I continued ahead up the steep steps. <\/p>\n\n\n

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I went on around the headland, with teasing views through the trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The distant views are magnificent, but so is the woodland itself.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The verdant countryside and views now to the east continued to impress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beacon Hill To Frodsham Cut<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Leaving the road, I loved this ancient sign. Not sure what it meant though!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Once the rain stopped, it was very pleasant.<\/p>\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Frodsham Cut To Castle Park<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving on, I had a brief meeting with civilisation, crossing the A56 at the road bridge, and witnessing a train cross the viaduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It was deserted as I passed below the M56.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The huge wind turbines were now in sight, making use of this exposed site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I turned right at The Lum. The paths here are overgrown with very tall reeds.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I decided that a video would capture the environment and atmosphere quite well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n