"Are you sure this is the path?"
Carved 9th century Anglo-Saxon Crosses in the centre of Sandbach.
St Mary's Church, Sandbach.
Our lunch spot, unexpected to find a suitable perch in the middle of no-where.
Room for two on the higher level with views over a delightful stream - I sat on the lower level with views of a grassy bank!
Views of Mowcop from the Trent and Mersey Canal East of Hassall Green.
The Salt Line - our route back to the car.
Walk stats: Distance: 10.4 miles. Climb: 341'.
Time: 5 hours 29 minuyres. On the move walking average: 2.3 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 2.0 m.p.h.
Group: Martyn, Celia and Phil.
This was the first time that we had used this car park at the start of Salt Line, West of Hassall Green. This made our walk a figure of eight, rather than the circular walk we did last time starting in Sandbach.
We set off anticipating mid-day showers, afternoon Sun and fairly strong wind. We did get very light rain as we approached Sandbach which stopped totally by lunch. We had no Sun and no wind, but it was pleasant warm, good conditions for walking.
This was a surprisingly varied walk and included the delightful centre square of Sandbach with its Anglo-Saxon crosses surrounded by thatched properties.
The surprise of the day, just as we wondering whether we would find a suitable spot to sit for lunch, when we came across what seemed to be like a two step stile facing a stream or was it meant to be a pic-nic table. We used it as a place to sit while we had lunch, at least it provided a dry place to sit at the right time and very welcome it was too. Who would expect to find this in the middle of no-where?
After lunch we soon encountered the steady drone of fast moving traffic along the M6, something that we didn't get away from until we were well past Hassall Green on the canal towards Thurlwood.
It was along this section that we had good views Mowcop Castle.
The last section of the route was along the old railway track known as the Salt Line. This is a delightful path lined with trees and would even be suitable for people with wheelchairs.
We arrived back at the car, having had a good walk with our legs telling us this walk was longer than any other walk this month!
Birds seen or heard today included: Wood nuthatch, Common blackbird, Blue tit, Great tit, Black-billed magpie, Grey heron, Mallard, Black-headed gull, Great tit, Carrion crow, Rook and Woodpigeon.
After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Stamford Bridge, just off the Tarvin Road, East of Chester.
Purple Moose's Elderflower Ale went down well, I was almost tempted to have a take-away!
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