Tuesday 27 January 2026 - Altrincham to Knutsford (Altrincham to Chester Stage 1)

A modest project to follow the GM Ringway walk. I've plotted a five stage route from Altrincham to Chester. The first stage, to Knutsford, was on the day a named storm, Chandra, was passing though our area. So six of us - me, Sue, Rick, Andy, Paul and Jeanette, plus Rufus the dog, got togged up for extreme weather and set off before 10 am from Altrincham Interchange.

Given the conditions, we decided is would be foolish to pass Gran T's without sampling their mugs of coffee. (Thanks, Rick.)

Half an hour later, and still in sight of the Interchange, we proceeded on a pleasant route through the well heeled streets and narrow ginnels of Altrincham. The rain had stopped for the day, leaving several of us seriously overdressed.

A blue plaque erected by Trafford Council reminds us of a WW1 hero from Bowdon, a suburb of Altrincham..

By the time we got near Ashley, the tarmac had gone and the path to a sturdy bridge across the River Bollin was slightly muddy.

 

Children play in the river here in their summer holidays, but we were the only visitors today.

A good path led across fields towards Ryecroft Farm, before which a left turn took us to a footbridge over the M56 motorway.

There followed a noisy, muddy walk beside the motorway, then a field path past Birkin Farm towards Ashley, where a bed of snowdrops beautified the verge.

Thanks to the mugs of coffee at Gran T's, our coffee break between Arden House and Birtles Farm was later than usual. There was a sad lack of a bench, though Sue tried to formulate one out of fresh air. There wasn't room for anyone else!

I should mention here that this route is just one of many different ways of walking from Altrincham to Knutsford. We could have used the familiar paths through Tatton Park, but I wanted to use paths that I've rarely been on before. Rick does recall walking part of this route with me and other members of the LDWA - perhaps that was the walk on 16 October 2011, on which I reported here. Anyway, today's route was an attempt at a good way of getting from Altrincham to Knutsford, staying close to the railway. (It worked - all six of us were happy with the chosen route.)

After Birtles Farm, paths led by hedgerows past a field of frisky horses. Frisky but not threatening. It was a trifle muddy by one of the gates.

In this area there were large expanses of newly planted trees and the path was clearly punctuated with brand new kissing gates.

Beyond Kell House Farm our planned route to Pepper Street was foiled by a closed path due to an 'unsafe bridge'. On another day I may have ignored the sign, but it was simple enough to continue past Parkside Farm and turn left at Fourlane-ends. The Barnshaw Smithy café was then passed on the way to a crossing of the railway line.

A wedding venue was reached at Owen House Farm, where there were posturing hares, but no 'lunch bench'.

After this, we stopped for lunch by a fairly sheltered (from the cool breeze) hedge under the airport flight path.

We were now on the 'North Cheshire Way' footpath that led to woods beside the enclosed boundaries of Tatton Park.

This was very pleasant, on some newly laid paths, until we reached a building site where it seems that an attempt is being made to link Mobberley with Knutsford by way of a huge new housing estate. Fences prohibited entry, but the crispy flower heads of teasel plants were making a bid to escape.

A good path has been installed around the boundary of the housing estate.

The new estate is called Park Gate Village, and completion seems to be from the Knutsford end. There appears to be only one way in and out of the estate, so the effect of any roadworks may be interesting.

Eventually we crossed the railway by Knutsford Moor Nature Reserve and took our last muddy path of the day to a pond on the edge of the town.

Black-headed gulls were the dominant species here today, together with lots of moorhens and smaller numbers of coot, cormorant, heron, grebes, mallard, swans and more.

We were in plenty of time, after a stroll through Knutsford, for the 15:41 train back to Altrincham. With Rick's help, I just managed to complete the day's 'Squaredle' puzzle before we left in a flurry of schoolchildren.

Here's our route - 17.5 km, with about 100 metres ascent (ie largely flat), taking 4.5 hours including breaks.

That was a good start to this project. Stage 2 - Knutsford to Northwich, will be on Friday 13 February - here's the flier:

Altrincham to Chester - Stage 2 - Knutsford to Northwich.
9:36 train from Altrincham to Knutsford (9:52), then walk to Northwich, approx 15km. Return on 15:28 or 16:28 train.