Friday 26 November 2021 - Around Helsby Hill

Graeme, JJ and Judith joined me on an overcast day (much better than the expected rain) for a walk described in Jen Darling's 'More Pub Walks' book. Jen's route used to start, in the original 2000 edition, from Netherton Hall, but I believe it has been updated to start from Beacon Hill. Unsure about parking at Netherton Hall, I had already planned to start from the Sandstone Trail car park at Beacon Hill, from near where the above photo was taken as we made our way along a field path between winter greens, to briefly join Manley Road. 

We soon reached the Sandstone Trail marked path at Snidley Moor Wood, where the last signs of autumn are evidenced by deep beech leaf litter.

Burrows Lane was soon reached, completely blocked for traffic by a large pile of branches. The residents of Alderhall, pictured in the distance below, must have to gain access by a road from Commonside, to the south.

Here's a picture taken from the same spot, on a path that leads towards Helsby.

At the edge of a wood with marked paths, a convenient picnic bench enabled us all to enjoy the contents of our flasks and refuel on the shortbread and scones brought by me and JJ. All gone by the time I got the camera out.

Dog walkers were parking nearby, so whilst Jen's description follows the road, we chose to wander as they were, through the wood, passing a disused quarry, and rejoining the road a bit further on, near the signed path to Helsby Hill.

The path goes past a farm with a large pond inhabited by a flock of Shelduck, before heading on to the trig point at the 141 metre summit.

There are fine views from the summit, across the bay to Liverpool and Lancashire, and in the other direction to Beeston and Peckforton, where it was showery today.

A good path led down through woodland to a stile that marks the end of some National Trust land. The stile is notable for the electric lazer-fence that catches the unwary (lazy) folk who try to by-pass the stile. It's just a sharp nip, not fatal to either JJ or Graeme, but Judith and I took no risks...

After a brief navigational faux pas (we should have turned sharp left at the stile) we walked into, then out of Helsby, heading east towards Beacon Hill, with pleasant views in the unexpectedly fine weather.

The North Cheshire Way provided a good path along the western border of the woodland below Woodhouse Hill.

A weathered set of steps leads up to Carriage Drive, where we turned left and headed down to Netherton Hall, from where Jen's route starts.

If starting from the pub - on the main A56 road south of Frodsham - it would be courteous to seek permission to park. Jen's 2000 dated guidebook describes appetizing meals and snacks. We didn't take the opportunity to provide an update on this, but the pub was busy.

Turning back up Carriage Drive, we regained the Sandstone Trail and turned sharply left up some steep steps to reach Frodsham Golf Course.

The path across the golf course is poorly marked, resulting in our following the perimeter rather than the designated path. You can see that near the car in the image below that records our 11km route with 350 metres ascent. It took us a leisurely three and a half hours.

Thanks for your company, everyone; there should be another outing next Friday (3 December). Let me know if you'd like details and are not on my circulation list.

I'll insert links to JJ and Judith's reports when they are published.
Here's JJ's report.

A visit to Wilkinsons in Warrington (very busy) confirmed that my damaged Canon G16 camera is not worth repairing. Scrap, unless anyone would like to have a go at mending it...