{"id":1009023,"date":"2024-09-05T16:56:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-05T15:56:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1009023"},"modified":"2024-09-05T16:57:02","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T15:57:02","slug":"church-minshull-and-the-river-weaver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1009023","title":{"rendered":"Church Minshull And The River Weaver"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Last week I introduced my walk as a great walk at summer’s end. This week’s walk was not so great and the weather had a distinctly autumnal feel, with a strong, cool easterly breeze taking the edge off the temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The journey to Church Minshull (south of Middlewich) took 45 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This walk is just shy of 8 miles and is mainly over fields, some of which hold cattle or sheep, and today quite a few had been recently muck-spread – not pleasant or humans never mind dogs! There are also a couple of difficult stretches of busy roads with fast cars and no footpath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked in a clockwise direction, and with it being largely flat, completed the walk in three and a half hours, plus a lunch break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is mainly on OS Explorer Map 267, with a short section near the start on Map 257. It also spans the border between East Cheshire and Cheshire West & Chester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked on Weaver View, Church Minshull, postcode CW5 6EB. What 3 Words \/\/\/setting.croutons.blizzard<\/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

Church Minshull To Parkfield<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I set off by walking up to the mini roundabout in the centre of the village, and then down to the bridge over the River Weaver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The path off to the right passes a small cottage and heads along the valley edge and into Eardswick Wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the prettiest section of the whole walk!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Soon, I met the Shropshire Union Canal. My route crossed over it here, but I went over onto the tow path before returning to cross the bridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Eardswick Hall is a large farm. My route now headed straight through a field which held these young cattle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fortunately, I found a way to bypass the field!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After crossing the A530, I enjoyed a pleasant section through a large arable field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The next big farm was Parkfield. It had nice gates!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, The way round the farm was completely unsignposted .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parkfield To The River Weaver<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having navigated round t the front and left of the buildings, I was able to cross the 4-line railway which links Liverpool to Crewe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The section from here to the A530 had a few less boisterous cattle, followed by the fields where muck spreading was in hand – horrible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reaching the A530 didn’t improve matters. There are bits of grass verge, but no proper footpath until the railway bridge. It was nice to reach the (now permanently closed) Verdin Arms and the view to the handsome Wimboldsley Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Beyond the hall, I re-crossed the canal, and then had to do a short section at a corner of another large field with lots of cattle. The two or three nearby were interested in me, but also nervous of me, but I was glad it only took half a minute to reach the next gate, before others noticed my presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stretch along the edge of Boundary Wood was a little more interesting, and I was soon heading down towards the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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And there it was, with a swan too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The footbridge here clearly has very little use, and I decided to sit here and eat lunch as the river flowed beneath me. This is a truly beautiful spot, and I’m glad I came here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Back To Church Minshull<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I climbed the steep bank on the other side of the bridge, and made my way along a long hedge-lined track with fields to either side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lea Green Villa Farm had a nice weather vane, the only point of interest here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the next farm, the path to the left which I expected to take, running down to the riverside, was closed. This was due to a collapsed bridge. So I continued on to the road, the B5074, and made my way back to the car. Again this was a fairly busy road with no footpaths, so not the easiest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s always great to get out and enjoy the challenges of a country walk, but suffice to say, I won’t be repeating this one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Morgan Wade plays country pop, and the album Total Control has just come out. This track is Hansel And Gretel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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