Wednesday 21 August 2024 - Lindow Moss

A review for Tony Bowerman of his 'Mysterious Cheshire' walk number 12. 'Lindow Moss - In Search of the Bog Man'.

The walk starts in Wilmslow, from the car park across Racecourse Road from Hickory's Smokehouse, what3words: comply.pounds.detect

Black Lake is soon reached. Whilst this used to be a haven of recreation for the youths of Wilmslow, it is now a sanctuary for wildlife, including a family of moorhens.

At the far end of the lake, willowherbs and reeds obscure the view at this time of year.

Our route leaves the lake here and doubles back to take a path that leads to the edge of the common.

After crossing Racecourse Road we head towards the cream painted frontage of Racecourse Farm, where we take a path to the left of the buildings.

We continue through an avenue of birch and mixed woodland, on a path raised slightly above the surrounding land.

After turning left onto a broad bridleway, Rotherwood Road, we continue past a 'Public Path > 34' sign near a right turn along Moor Lane.

There have been changes along Moor Lane since Tony's book was last edited. A garden centre has been replaced with new housing, as has Wilmslow Peat Farm. The caravan site at Lindow Court Park has been superseded with a private estate of 54 small but exclusive housing plots, not caravans but not much bigger than caravans. I didn't venture past the 'Private' signs; our route takes a path just to the right of the blue sign pictured below.

After less than 100 metres, a path to the right leads through a gap in the fence and across a field to the wooden bridge pictured below, looking back across the field.

The path now proceeds across the Moss, which is currently graced by an artwork, offering views across the heathery expanse that has replaced the ugly sight of the peat extraction workings.

This is where 'Pete Marsh', a man who died some 2500 years ago and whose body was preserved in the peat, was discovered in 1983.

Another wooden bridge leads out of the Moss before a right turn towards Saltersley Hall Farm.

The path continues to the very private fishing grounds of Rossmere Lake.

After walking past the lake, we go straight on at a crossroads with Rotherwood Road bridleway, and head down Newgate Road to Newgate Nature Reserve, on the site of an above ground landfill site.

The long lane leads eventually to Racecourse Road, where we go straight across and continue towards Black Lake to join our outward route and return to the car park.

Here's the 5.5km route, with minimal ascent. It took me an hour and a half at a gentle strolling pace.