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 ti can be wet and muddy.
2 Take a 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 wood
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
Dunsdale Hollow 2
This was once known as 'Ladies' Path'; look out for 100 - to 150-year-oid graffiti carved into the sandstone cliffs.
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 2
16a. Crude steps cut Into the rock here once descended into the shaded combe of Dunsdale Hollow.
Jacob's Ladder 1
16b. Known locally as Jacob's Ladder, the steps are now dangerously eroded; today, safer wooden steps - Baker's Dozen - descend the cliffs ahead.
Abraham's Leap
Beyond a wooden footbridge, go up another set of steps cut into a low sandstone cliff known as Abraham's Leap
Winding path
18. At the top, bear right and follow the winding path through trees
Frodsham Golf Course 1
You will arrive at the fairways of Frodsham Golf Course on your left.
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 1
20. 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
Snidley Moor Wood 2
22. Tum right, away from the fields, downhill on a gently sloping, sandy path beneath the trees.
Lane
23. Off to the right, a series of former pig grazing fields have been replanted with native woodland species. Lower down, the path narrows and becomes an atmospheric sunken lane with high, overgrown banks on either side.
Large pond
24. After the Trail ieaves the woods, the track becomes sandy and curves on beyond a large pond. Continue past a mobile home site, to meet the narrow country road known as the Ridgeway. The name is a reminder that the sandstone ridge was once an important prehistoric trading route leading south from the Mersey Estuary and the Irish Sea, high and dry above the wet and densley wooded Cheshire Plain.
Ridgeway Country Holiday park
26. Less than 100 metres later, opposite the entrance to the 'Ridgewe Country Holiday Park', turn right, up a flight of stone steps and climb the bank into Ridgeway Wood.
The ditch
28. A few hundred metres later, a waymarked wooden footbridge crosses the ditch to the right to emerge at the bottom of a large, tree-lined field.
Field edge
29. Head uphill, alongside the field edge.
Queen Charlotte's wood
30. At the top of the slope, follow the field boundary as it bends to the left around the corner of the woods. Glance back here and you'll see the distant Mersey framed by wooded hills. Among the trees to the left here is Queen Charlotte's Wood Scout Camp.
Helsby Hill
33. Suddenly the view opens out: behind you are the Mersey Estuary and Helsby Hill and away to the right, the patchwork of the Cheshire Plain backed by the Welsh mountains. For the next half kilometre, the level path traverses the top of fields at the base of the cliff. Compare the sandstone crag, jutting from the slopes above with the occasional pale, ice-worn glacial boulders built into the field walls beside the path.
Yarrangel Green Farm
35. Fifty metres on, bear left through a kissing gate ane follow the fenced path to the lane beside Yarrangall Green Farm.
Simmonds Hill
36. Cross the narrow lane and continue straight ahead on a short path that drops gently across two fields to Manley Road, at the foot of wooded Simmond's Hill.
Bakers Dozen
37. Turn right, and walk along the verge for a hundred metres to a T-junction.
Manley
38. Cross the sometimes busy road and turn left, uphill, towards Manley and Tarvin. For the next kilometre or so, the Trail follows the safe, tarmaced roadside pavement.
Seat
39. Continue past a seat at the lay-by. When the road forks beside Manley School, 500 metres on, bear left along the B5393 Tarvln road. (Manley Farm Shop is a short distance down the road to the right.)
St John
40. Beyond a private road to Manley Knoll, walk on past tiny, roadside St John's Church.
Kissing gate
41. Opposite Pingot Lane, turn left through a kissing-gate set in a new drystone wall.
Manley Common
42. Away from the road, the path traces the field edge. Hidden among trees to the left, is black-and-white Ravelstone House. Over a stile in the field corner, turn right, across a small paddock, onto Manley Common.
Milestone
44. Roughly 200 metres beyond the farm, look over a field gate on the left: across the field, in the hedgerow, is a tall standing stone. Nearby, on the verge beside a narrow access lane to cottages on the left, is a round topped sandstone Trail Milestone. Continuing along New Pale Road to the sharp bend at Manley Common. Cross over here, and continue straight ahead on a broad footpath signposted to Delamere Forest
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