Sandy soils extend for quite a distance to the east of the sandstone ridge (hence, the unimaginatively named Sandiway!) creating Sphagnum moss peat lowland heaths and birch woods rich in bluebells. Further on we pass the site of one of the largest monasteries in the country and finally follows the Weaver Navigation for a traffic-free entry to Northwich – a salt town since roman times. This section is 9 miles.
- STARTING POINT: Junction of Stonyford Lane and A556 ///examiner.swaps.paddlers
- TRANSPORT: There is a bus stop called Oakmere Coutry Park about 100 yards towards Chester, for bus 82 from Kelsall, Chester or Northwich.
- PREVIOUS SECTION: Kelsall to Oakmere Country Park
Part 1: Oakmere to Whitegate
1. Follow the A556 east (signposted Manchester) along the footpath for about 350 yards to cross an old railway (now the Whitegate Way) on an over-bridge. Immediately after the bridge, descend the steps left onto the Whitegate Way and go under the bridge. Continue along the Way with some varied views of farmland, and woodland. After passing under 2 further bridges you will find Abbots Moss on your right.
- WILDLIFE NOTE: Abbots Moss, is the first reserve to be identified in Cheshire by Charles Rothschild when he founded ‘the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves’ in 1912 (his records are here). It is a peat bog dating from around 7000 years ago, and a rare example of a floating ‘schwingmoor’ (or quaking) bog. It is home to a number of delicate and specialised plants and wildlife, including the carnivorous sundew. As one of the few remnants of this rare habitat in Cheshire, and a habitat that is easily damaged and difficult to safely negotiate, it has restricted public access – both because of the fragile nature of this SSSI moss and for safety as the moss is floating over deep water.. A mosaic of bog pools, heath, sphagnum rafts and flora provide a haven for large numbers of dragonflies including four-spotted chasers. Green hairstreak butterflies are also found at Abbots Moss, as well as an impressive list of almost 150 spiders recorded on the moss. (Info from CWT). There are a few unofficial paths on the Moss or it can be viewed by leaving the Whitegate Way at the over-bridge and following the path going right.
2. The main route continues along the Whitegate Way to the erstwhile Whitegate Station, (shown as Marton Green on the map) which now offers a refreshment stop.
- REFRESHMENT: The old station is now a café. There are also picnic tables and toilets.
3. From Whitegate Station continue along the Whitegate Way for about half a mile till a footpath crosses the track diagonally (///strays.apartment.singles). Turn half left and follow the path downhill to Daleford’s Lane. Turn right and follow the lane, talking care as there is no pavement. After about 100 yards, turn left into the track toward Dale Green Farm, and a footpath fingerboard on the opposite side of the road. Follow this track along the valley until it turns right with a footpath ahead of you, and another to the left.
- REFRESHMENT: The Plough Inn is about one third of a mile to your left at this point, accessed by taking the footpath left, uphill onto Beauty Bank Road and following this for 200 yards (return by the same route).
4. The walk continue along the valley floor, taking the footpath straight ahead through some beautiful bluebell woods. After a bout 1/3 mile a small lake appears on your right. Cross a footbridge over a stream feeding the lake, then follow the path, turning left and rising out of the valley to Foxtwist Green lane. Ignore the first footpath right (appearing to go down a private drive) and take the second one, just 20 yards further on which follows a narrow lane. After about 100 yards, after the lane turns right the left, take the footpath on your left (easily missed), and follow it across 2 fields to emerge onto Cinder Hill Road by Red House Cottage. Turn right towards Whitegate.
- POINT OF INTEREST: Whitegate has a picturesque village green and church – but unfortunately no shop or refreshments. This church was a favourite photographic subject for Eric, and one of his photos of it in snow was used by the CWT for one of their Christmas Card designs.
Part 2: Whitegate to Northwich
5. From Whitegate church, take the old road past the lodge and between the white fences. This used to be a beautiful avenue of mature trees providing access to Vale Royal Abbey (see below), but has become rather neglected since the road for the executive houses to its left replaced it. It does still make a fine walk! Join the ‘new’ road when it comes in from your left and continues to Vale Royal Hall.
- POINT OF INTEREST: Vale Royal was once the site of the largest ecclesiastical building in the UK, of which sadly little remains today. It was replaced by a stately home at the dissolution. In the 20th century this became an executive conference centre for ICI, then a restaurant before becoming the golf clubhouse it is today.
6. Continue in the same direction passing the Hall then the golf shop, then go through a gate onto what used to be the alternative access to Vale Royal – from Hartford. Follow this to the next gate. Here, take the path branching off to your right over a metal bridge, and follow the track over the locks.
- POINT OF INTEREST: These twin locks are huge by canal standards, and were built to take seagoing boats to Winsford to load with rock salt which was sold all over the world. Sadly the large lock is currently out of commission. The locks had a semaphore systems (similar to railway signals) to show boats which lock to use.
7. Turn left after crossing the locks and follow the path beside the river, passing under the viaduct for the West Coast Mainline railway, and after about a mile under the A556.
- WILDLIFE NOTE: Hartford Wetland is just before the A556 bridge, and is an area which supports Barn Owls, Reed Buntings, amphibians, dragonflies and damselflies. There is a boardwalk on the site and a very good interpretation board erected by the River and Canal Trust. (Info from the Interpretation board)
- WILDLIFE NOTE: Poors Wood nature reserve is about 250 yards after the bridge, and owned by the CWT. It is a semi-natural broadleaved woodland on the steep banks of the River Weaver. The canopy is dominated by ash and sycamore, with frequent beech and English oak. Springs and seepages emerge from within the wood and create damp regions. Hawthorn and holly are present at the shrub layer, and bluebells carpet the woodland floor in spring. An area of willow carr lies on the level ground between the steep woodland and the river. Standing water covers most of this area, and is dominated by crack willow with stands of common reed. There is a small area of grassland adjacent to the wood, with scattered trees and bramble scrub. This area is rich in tall herb species, including common hogweed, willowherbs, creeping thistle and nettle. Flocks of goldfinch can be seen feeding on the thistle seed in late summer. (Info from CWT). This reserve also has its own walkway and interpretation board. The walkway rejoins the riverside path a little further along.
8. Continue alongside the river towards Northwich. As you approach another railway viaduct (this time the Mid Cheshire lines), the path – now surfaced – abandons the riverside and passes under the viaduct, then runs parallel to it (Signposted Town Centre on blue sign), and emerges on London Road.
- POINT OF INTEREST: The Weaver Hall salt museum is 200 yards to your right.
9. Cross London Road and continue on the path beside the viaduct to cross the River Dane (This is one of the few unimproved rivers of Cheshire and one you will be following later in the walk). Immediately over the river the path splits – and you take the left path, keeping the viaduct on your right and following the Dane downstream. Pass the Memorial Court and Leisure Complex on your right, and cross the busy Chester Way, continuing beside the River Dane to emerge at a busy junction surrounded by timber-frame buildings with Nat West Bank to your right. The area in front of the bank (///wide.bridge.limit) is now just a road junction but used to be known as The Bull Ring, and was the centre of the town.
- POINTS OF INTEREST: Northwich, like Chester, is an ancient town – but there the similarity ends, because whereas Chester was a wealthy port and administrative centre, Northwich has , since Roman times, been an industrial town, based on the underground salt reserves. This has left a huge industrial heritage, some of which we visit, and salt still supports big industrial undertakings in the area. Modern extraction of salt is from controlled brine wells, but uncontrolled extraction of brine in the past led to collapse of underground caverns as it dissolved, creating significant subsidence. One consequence of this is that many of the older town properties were built on a timber frame so that the whole property could be jacked up if it started subsiding. This creates the appearance of a mock-Elizabethan revival – but is purely practical! The best examples of this are near the Bull Ring.
- TRANSPORT: The bus depot is 200 yds along the dual carriageway to the right of Nat West. Bus 82 runs back to Kelsall, Tarvin and Chester – 2 hourly. Northwich station (for trains to Delamere and Chester) is about 1mile along the road past the bus depot (then follow signs).
- REFRESHMENT: Northwich offers many cafes and pubs
- NEXT SECTION: Northwich to Holmes Chapel
Eric Thurston Wildlife Way 