Bank Holiday day trip

The weather through May has been cold, and very windy, with some heavy rain and hail showers.  So, when I saw the forecast for the bank holiday Saturday was going to be beautiful unbroken sunshine with little wind,  I popped an invite on facebook to go on a day ride, of about 50-60 miles.  I also need to get some larger distances in before the Bob Clift Cheshire Cycleway 100 miles!

6 of us met at the cafe (closed for bank holiday) and set off towards Ince, and the Marsh track - there has been much excitement over recent weeks with the opening of a new cycle route across the Dee Marshes, linking the Greenway to Burton Point.  But another track I have not done in years and wanted to re-visit was the Ince Helsby marshes, which you can see from the M56 as you pass Helsby and Frodsham.

heading out of Ince, Mersey in the distance

I went wrong straight away in Ince, and we were merrily heading to Elton, when I realised and we had to double back, pausing at Ince Manor to see some of the renovations that have been done since our last visit (September 2010!).  

Dropping down from Ince, you get a peek of the Mersey before coming to a farm - and a big black dog on the skyline.  Fortunately it was a friendly and bouncy black Labrador, who happily bounded along (beside me mainly!) as we yet again missed the turning and ended up in a dead end consulting Jo's Garmin (mine was being temperamental).  Back  little way (still with waggy dog) to the last junction (clearly signposted Route 5!) and along there, following a Heron and alongside a small stream, on a track aptly named Marsh Lane.

One waggy black Lab!

Marsh Lane

It was interesting to be back on Route 5, as we negotiated several junctions but well signposted.  We passed some model plane enthusiasts, flying several aeroplanes over our heads, and enjoyed great views across to Helsby and Frodsham hills.  The track was dry, and rough - but sound and obviously traffic free.


(The following pics are our journey across the marsh - click on an image to see all pictures in a slide show)

Interesting sign!

 

Frodsham Hill

model plane.

 

small cows, crammed into one end of the field?!

glimpse of Helsby hill

 

We found a nice cafe in Frodsham, following which we had a splitting of the ways, with three heading home.  Sue, Pauline and I continued up out of Frodsham on the B-road, finally enjoying views across Vale Royal, with the Daresbury science tower to our left. At Kingsley we turned off the main road and had a superb descent before turning again to smaller lanes and eventually coming out by the Dutton Viaduct.

Dutton Viaduct

friendly ponies

We then picked up the (aforementioned) Cheshire Cycleway with another descent to Acton Bridge on the A49, which we had to cross to head up to Little Leigh.  

Acton Bridge

Little Leigh Church

Interior of St.Michael's and All Angels

In Little Leigh the church was open to visitors, so we popped in and said hello, they have beautiful stained glass windows, and are open every Saturday.  From here we carried on round to Comberbach, and the Anderton Boat lift, stopping for lunch at the marina.  By now it was 3pm, but I had not been watching the time, we had been dollying along, stopping for pictures and having a nice relaxed time.

Lunch at Anderton Marina

Anderton Marina

Anderton Boat Lift

Wild Garlic in Marbury Country park

After lunch we retraced and entered Marbury Country park, following another traffic free route with wild garlic and bluebells in the woods and alongside the track.  

Viaduct at Northwich

This brought us into an industrial are and then Northwich main street (which is very long!).  At the other end of town, we negotiated the main road, picking up a riverside route, bringing us eventually to Leftwich.  The problem with this area is that there are very few routes to get you back across the river and railway, apart from main roads and rough tracks (the latter if which I have done in the past).

Coming into Eaton

Canal at Waverton

So we continued on the lanes to Winsford, skirting the town on another riverside path and climbing up to lanes now leading us home through Wettenhall and Eaton.

60 miles.

Hidden Histories and Herons

The rain stopped at 8:33 precisely, and I was not sure what the forcast was to be. After a quick online check I was (fairly) confident that it would now remain sunny in Chester till about 4pm. That was what the BBC and Met office were saying, anyway. So, that was what I assured the ladies when we all met up at the cafe.


We set off down Mannings Lane and turned left at Mickle Trafford and followed that lane to the canal at Stoak. By now it was raining. "You said it was not going to rain today" was the cry from behind. Yes, but that was in Chester, says I pointing to the still blue sky behind us!



Hidden Heron!



 



At Stoak we were due to meet up with Pat - but there was no sign of her. After safely parking the ladies under the canal bridge (and in the dry), I set off towards Ellesmere Port, to hopefully meet Pat and come back with her. One mile later, and no sign of her. With no phone number (note to self, always get someone's mobile number if planning to meet them) I had to retrace - only to receive a call from Pat who was now under the canal bridge with the ladies. She had been sat on the canal bank, after arriving early and going for a short ride up the canal and back.





No Stoppin to admire the view on Oil Sites Road!



By now it had stopped raining, and so all together we set off along the canal, where we espied a Heron. There is often a Heron along this stretch of canal, and this dude was sat on the towpath!

Leaving the canal we swung round and picked up the celubrious Oil Sites Road - yes it is as glamorous as it sounds. We also ran into the rain cloud again (grrr) so that was nice!



I had thought I had found a new cafe, but when I turned into a side road the ladies were a little perturbed to be hearing a siren (there are all sorts of wonderful sights and sounds in the middle of an oil refinery!) and when we drew up to a building which had big signs proclaiming it to be a 'safe retreat', they thought the whole place was going to blow!

However, the cafe was a small hut with outside seating (it was still precipitating rather profusely), or the offer of a sofa and chair inside (not enough space for 9 soggy bottoms), so we carried on to Ince.



Ince Manor



We did a little circuit around Kinseys Lane, and all the old farms; returning up towards Ince Manor, an old Monastic Grange dating back to the Doomsday book. See Wikipedia for more history.

I had arranged refreshments with The Duke of Wellington Inn, and once we had tied up our steeds in the beer garden, we were welcomed with toasted baps (or rolls, Lesley!) and tea and coffee. Thanks Pam!



After we were refreshed, we tottered across to the Manor, where I had also arranged with Tony (the owner) for a 'private' view. He was not there to start with, but the door was open, and as we were exploring he turned up. He told us his story of how he had grown up in Ince,a nd how he came to own the manor, and all his tribulations and experiences of owning a schedule one building.



Ince Manor from the Gallery



Ince Manor from the garden



Return home

We left Ince and headed to Wimbolds Tafford, Mickle Trafford and returned up the cycleway. Of course, the sun was shining here as we were back in Chester!

19 Miles, 4 of which were wet.

A short ride in June

Despite decidedly damp weather, five ladies (plus me!) braved the elements for a ride that was not as wet as one might expect. Following the same route I used on the first ladies ride, we did a modest 8 miles to return to the cafe. It was a very quiet ride, there were few people out and less animals. We did, however, spot a heron on the bank of the canal.

Mind you, it looks wet, doesn't it!