{"id":1006877,"date":"2023-02-02T19:07:02","date_gmt":"2023-02-02T19:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1006877"},"modified":"2023-02-02T19:07:07","modified_gmt":"2023-02-02T19:07:07","slug":"chelford-and-jodrell-bank","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1006877","title":{"rendered":"Chelford and Jodrell Bank"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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

I decided that I would stick to low level winter walking today, and headed a short distance to Chelford. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather was great for walking \u2013 cloudy, quiet, and relatively warm for the time of year. It wasn’t so great for photography!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a 25 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme to Chelford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is easy flat walking, but 9.5 miles long still left me quite tired by the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took 4 hours, plus 15 minutes for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is OK for dog walking, but there are some roads, and field stretches that will sometimes hold livestock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked on the road, at the end of Pepper Street, near to The Egerton Arms Chophouse, postcode SK11 9BB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked anti-clockwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map268.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Snelson To Jodrell Bank<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I set off down Pepper Street. There are some seriously expensive properties here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After turning left at Snelson, I was soon heading into a landscape typical of the area – copses with ponds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then, into open country where I caught my first glimpse of the Lovell telescope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The route criss-crosses the West Coast mainline here. First, I found my way through this slightly eerie low tunnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Leaving Peover Lane, I came to the second tunnel crossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Knee deep in animal faeces – no thanks. I diverted to the road bridge!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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The third rail crossing was uneventful, and I was soon heading down to Bate Mill which looked interesting but somewhat dilapidated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Peering in, I could just about see the old water wheel still in situ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It certainly looks like a major renovation project!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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Quarrying Country<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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

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At Dairy House Farm, only dereliction remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The open fields of maize stubble soon revealed views to the hills in the east above Macclesfield. Unmistakably Shutlingsloe and Sutton Mast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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The next lake is beautiful and the hill near Congleton, The Cloud, rises in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The route now enters a heathlike wooded area. This caravan has seen better days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So far, the lakes had been strictly private areas. So it was nice to come across this one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is a place for a specific future visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I crossed a minor road and made my way down to Snape Brook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The shallow valley is dotted with pools and a very twisty, meandering stream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found a log on which to sit by the water to take a lunch break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

After crossing the A537, the route passes two further large flooded quarries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first was home to a fish hunting cormorant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It also had an island which was holding numerous Canada geese and lapwings, plus a pair of oystercatchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second one revealed the day’s first hint of sunshine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From here, it was a pleasant stroll back under the railway and around the village to the car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Margo Price has country music roots, but her new album, Strays, has a lot more to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is Been To The Mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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