Chester: Guilden Sutton - Great Barrow - Stamford Bridge - Stamford Mill - Guilden Sutton

Derek Smith

You need to log in as a member of Walkingworld to access the details for this walk and have an active subscription. Please join, or log in above if you are already a member.

Save Our Footpaths - get off the beaten track, part of this circular walk is along footpaths close to Chester which are not often used; therefore this is a walk for the serious hiker who enjoys a challenge. With far more footpath than road, the first half is an easy walk over the pleasant and attractive Cheshire plain. The footpaths here are used enough to be able to follow their route. Best walked in spring and summer as the fields by the river tend to become a bit of a flood plain in autumn and winter or after a lot of heavy rain. Sections towards the end of this route are rarely walked, probably because the ground at one of the stiles is very muddy, and the whole field beyond is very rough and covered with big tufts of marsh grass and wet sections. There are no visible footpaths anywhere here which earn this walk its grading. The most attractive part is the stroll across the very scenic and delightful golf course near the end. All the stiles and bridges are in good order and fitted with yellow route indicators, most of which are correct, with some indicating a better route than shown on the map; some gates are hard to open. This is a longer version of walk 8008.

The walk is suitable for older teenagers, senior citizens and anyone in-between. Difficult for dogs, and hopeless for wheelchairs and buggies. Suitable footwear will be boots, and due to extensive encounters with thistles and nettles avoid wearing shorts. There are refreshments, toilets and picnic tables at the pub near the start and finish. If you book in advance, you should be able to get a good meal with your drink; an excellent finish to a challenging walk; (see 'Additional info' below). You will also come across the occasional bench seat elsewhere on the route.

England - North England - Cheshire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Church, Flowers, Mostly Flat, Pub, Public Transport, River, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

4/16/2022 - Andrew Maidstone

Walked 16.04.22. Really enjoyed it. All directions clear and we didn't get lost once - which is some achievement for us :-) However at Waymark 10 the marsh was an un-navigable lake. Even with a swimming costume it would have been difficult to take the direct route. So we just skirted the field edge and climbed over a gate. A very minor diversion. Thanks again for this contribution