Sandstone Trail
One of the popular walks in Britain.
If you are looking for something a bit more sedate then you can experience the natural beauty of the area by walking along the Sandstone Trail. This is an official walk across Cheshire and begins (or ends depending where you start!) just outside the Bear's Paw pub at the junction of Main Street, Church Street and High Street in the town centre. This is a 32 mile (51 km) long-distance walkers' path, following sandstone ridges running north–south from Frodsham in central Cheshire to Whitchurch.
The Sandstone Trail can be walked as three separate sections. The trail is marked with finger posts and waymark discs and allows walkers to enjoy each town along the way. Starting at the new landmark in Frodsham the route passes Alvanley Cliff, through Delamere Park and then into Willington. The middle section gives excellent views of Peckforton and Beeston Castles. The final section links Bickerton Hill, Grindley Brook and ends in Whitchurch.
Be Prepared
1 Wear sensible clothing and footwear such as strong shoes or walking boots is recommended and the Trail runs mainly across country where it can be wet and muddy.
2 Take waterproof gear with you. There aren't too many places to shelter along the trail and you can be quite a distance from any facilities such as cafe's, shop or pubs.
3 Carry with you refreshments, something to eat and plenty to drink.
4 Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged.
5 Take money with you for refreshments, bus or taxi.
6 Other optional extras would be a pair of binoculars and a field guide to British Wildlife.
Be Safe
2 Walk along the right-hand side of the road, facing oncoming traffic (except on blind bends or where common sense dictates otherwise.
3 Beware of steep slopes and unfenced cliff edges along the trail.
4 Be careful around livestock and farm machinery, especially if you have children.
5 Carry a hat and sunscreen in Summer.
6 If you do have an accident, make an accurate note of your position and call the emergency services on 999.
Frodsham Hill (from Howey Lane)
On Howey Lane (the hilly road from Netherton Hall with all the speed-bumps) and not too far past Howey Rise is a thin pathway between houses through a wooden gate that warns you to ensure it is closed after passing through. This leads up the hill via wooden steps. This can be treacherous coming down in the rain, so best used when dry.
The Sandstone Trail
6. A hundred metres or at the foot of the densely wooded slopes of Frodsham Hill, bear left on a sandy path amid the trees
7. Almost immediately, turn left again, uphill on steep, signposted path. The path zigzags up through mature woodland.
8. Turn sharp left at a waymarked junction, then sharp right at the next T-junction onto a level path along the contour of the slope.
9a. Close to the top, turn left, up the bank, on another waymarked path, to emerge Into the light and breeze near the War Memorial.
Overton Hill
9b. The view from here is stunning, showing the vast expanse of the Mersey Estuary. In the middle distance, beyond the motorway, you can see the open expanse of the old Frodsham marshes now reclaimed for agriculture and industry.
Overton trail 2
10b. Keep walking. When the path path forks a line of low sandstone ciiffs, take the right hand, lower path that runs along their base
Frodsham Hill Wood
10c. You will pass Beacon Hill Car Park on the left (the original starting point for the Sandstone trail). You then cross a wooden bridge.
Spoon Shapes Quarry.
10d The path forks to a line of low sandstone cliffs. You can take the right hand lower path or continue along the top, though it is unfenced, so be careful.
Top of Quarry
10e Continue along the unfenced cliffs
Dunsdale Hollow 2
11. See the sandstone cliffs called Dunsdale Hollow (whose name means 'dung valley').
Above Dunsdale Hollow 1
12. Up to the left is Overton Hill site of the old Mersey View Pleasure Grounds and funfair.
Above Dunsdale Hollow 2
13. The path winds through open oak and birch woodland, bright with bluebells in the spring.
Baker's Dozen sign
14a A flight of steps called 'Jacob's Ladder' - after the biblical 'stairway to heaven' - was cut into the cliffs for the precarious descent into Dunsdale Hollow. The steps have been replaced by Wooden and metal steps called "Baker's Dozen"
Baker's Dozen steps
14b. Baker's Dozen to make the downward trip safer.
Baker's Dozen steps
14c. At the bottom you can see what remains of the original eroded sandstone steps known as 'Jacob's Ladder'
Jacob's Ladder (as was in 2011)
14d. This is the original Jacob's ladder (2011) before it was replaced with the wooden 'Baker's Dozen' and then further improved with metal grated steps that we see today.
Winding path
18a. At the top, bear right and follow the winding path through trees
Frodsham Golf Course 1
18b. You will arrive at the fairways of Frodsham Golf Course on your left.
View from Woodhouse Hill.
18c. Looking out to the Windfarm and Cheshire hills. The River Mersey is to the right of the picture.
Beyond the golf course
19. Beyond the golf course, the Trail continues to open rock platform, called Scout Rock, at Woodhouse Viewpoint, with broad vistas across the fields to Helsby Crag.
Woodhouse Hillfort
20a. Water erosion and wind has uprooted a few of the trees
Woodhouse Hillfort
20b. You are not too far from the top of Carriage Drive Frodsham at this point - that's the road that arrives at the junction opposite the Netherton Hall on the main Chester road out of Frodsham.
Woodhouse Hillfort
20c. Lots of dead trees in this part of the wood
Woodhouse Hillfort 1
20d. Bear left, away from the edge, on a rising path over Wood house Hill. Lost among the trees and bracken on the high ground to the right here are the Iron Age earthworks of Woodhouse Hillfort. Ref: Habitats and Hillforts
The Money Tree
21a. In a clearing in Snidley Moor Wood sits the Money tree.
The Money Tree - CU
22b. Old coins, euros and metric money all pushed into this old tree stump.
Snidley Moor Wood 2
22. Tum right, away from the fields, downhill on a gently sloping, sandy path beneath the trees.
Snidley Moor Wood 3
23. Off to the right, a series of former pig grazing fields have been replanted with native woodland species. The fort site and the surrounding areas form a part of within Snidley Moor Wood much of which is owned and managed by the Woodland Trust.
Snidley Moor Wood 3
Preserved by the Woodland trust.
Snidley Moor Wood hill.
24. Seat at the top of Snidley Moor hill. The seat is dedicated to Andrew Bell (1964 - 2005).
