Friday 9 November 2018 – Around Rostherne

I first walked this route on 30 July 1997, since when the paths remain the same, if not entirely the surroundings. It is described in Jen Darling’s 1990 version of ‘Pub Walks in Cheshire’, but she has chosen not to include it in the forthcoming third edition of that guide.

With rain forecast on an already dull day, I was surprised to find six others champing at the bit when I arrived quite early in Rostherne, where there’s easy roadside parking in the village. Keith and Carol had come all the way from Crosby, and Rick, Viv, Steve and Paul had turned up from their much closer homes.

The path to Tatton Dale, pictured above, was easy to follow across the recently planted field. In fact, the whole route was surprisingly dry underfoot. What rain we’ve had has been absorbed well by the earth that was parched by the hot summer.

We were soon doubling back to Mere Farm and a right turn to Cicely Mill and the small mere next to it.

Turning onto Cicely Mill Lane, the trees were displaying vibrant yellow foliage despite the dullness of the day.

After passing the Swan, and strolling across the once busy road, we crossed the new A556 link road by a bridge that actually makes this walk rather easier than before the new road was built. Soon afterwards this house at Denfield Cottages was effectively boarded up. It looked in good condition so hopefully something positive will happen to it.

The route then follows Agden Brook across pleasant meadows, with a suitably quiet spot for elevenses.

Soon after that, Booth Bank was reached. Steve willingly posed for me, and suggested the caption:

“Which one is Steve?”

After a noisy but not unpleasant spell beside the M56 motorway, we headed south past Hope Cottage, whose garden houses the waymarked path. The gate shown below provides the exit from the garden. When we reached the locked gate from the other side we didn’t see the waymark, so we thought we were wrong and we traipsed all the way back to the entrance to find a way around. We should have climbed over the gate.

Soon afterwards the path reached a quiet lane that led back over the new road and all the way back to Rostherne, with lovely views towards the church, and to our left over Rostherne Mere.

St Mary’s church has a lychgate dating from about 1640, making it perhaps the oldest such gate in England.

The original graveyard is full, and there have been several extensions.

After walking through the churchyard we turned left towards the Mere, to which there is no public access. A permit is needed to get any closer than the next picture, taken from a permissive path that loops behind the church and arrives back at the village after a short clockwise circuit.

So that was it. A very pleasant route, and sociable as well. 11.5 km with 100 metres ascent, taking 2.5 hours. Most people went home, but I went to Dunham Massey for coffee and cake with Keith and Carol.

Next time: Friday 23 November - Around Budworth Mere. Meet at the Anderton Boat Lift Visitor Centre (SJ 647 752) at 10 am for a fairly flat 12 km. Take the A533 from Northwich to get there.