Posted:  Thursday 01 October 2009

Manchester Area Associates
Central Cheshire Walk

- 28th September -

In the middle of the Cheshire Plain there is a rocky crag on which stands the ruin of Beeston Castle.
Just to the south of here there's a range of low sandstone hills made up of the Peckforton Hills, Bulkeley Hill and the Bickerton Hills along which runs part of the
34 miles of the Cheshire section of the Sandstone Trail path.

The highest point on the path is Raw Head, which was the focus for a group of Manchester Area Associate walkers.

Graham Kaye writes:

On a bright and sunny morning on Monday September 28th seven Associates and a dog assembled at the famous Candles Workshops in the lovely Cheshire village of Burwardsley, 10 miles south of the county capital of Chester.  Our objective was a five mile walk along part of the Sandstone Trail which stretches for 37 miles from Frodsham in the north to Whitchurch in the south.

Our leader informed us that this would be the most strenuous walk attempted so far and he was right, having to face a long steep climb to the top of the Raw Head ridge.

This afforded superb views of the surrounding countryside as far as north Wales and Liverpool.

After a very steep ascent via a long flight of steps we passed the most unusual sight of builders converting an underground garage complete with grass roof into a conservatory before arriving back at our starting point and a very welcome freshly cooked lunch before looking around the shops and museum.

pictures:  cyril heap & graham kaye

(ph  01/10/2009)

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