Sherratts Rough - Petty Pool - Newchurch Common Circular

Philip Ingram

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This short walk along rights of way and permissive paths includes open fields, scrubby woodland, plantations and three sizeable pools. A short stretch is usually very wet but the rest is easy underfoot. Route finding is mainly easy. The tricky bits are covered in the details! You are virtually certain to see and hear buzzards as you cross the open fields. The woodland margins and scrubby copses are home to many wildflowers. Squirrels are plentiful but the patient and observant may see other small mammals. The sandy heath is also good for lizards and probably snakes also, though I haven't seen any. On fine, high-summer days, I have seen the path around Waymark 14 looking like a brilliant blue stream, with countless damselflies shimmering in the sun. Birders will find a good range of water birds on the various pools, so bring your binoculars.

If you start the walk late in the day, it is best to go round in the opposite direction to that described, as the Sherratts Rough woods are quite dense and dark. I'd recommend familiarising yourself with the walk the right way round before doing this and checking that you can spot Waymark 21, as this is surprisingly difficult to find when going anticlockwise.

England - North England - Cheshire - Countryside

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Lake/Loch, Mostly Flat, Wildlife, Woodland

31/05/2017 - Philip Ingram

A new footpath sign at wp21 makes doing this walk in the reverse direction much easier. It makes a very good summer evening walk that way round. No cuckoo when I went round on 31st May 2017 but I did see a kingfisher.

12/05/2016 - Philip Ingram

Rewalked 12th May 2016. Delighted to hear a cuckoo, which I haven't heard in Cheshire for 20-odd years. Also a Green Woodpecker. Bluebells, Marsh Marigolds and other classic spring flowers in abundance. Come and enjoy it!

15/02/2015 - paul smith

Just done this walk today. Lots of woodland and nice and flat. Great for dog walkers. Will be returning in spring/summer.

09/07/2014 - Philip Ingram

On 9th July 2014, the path between WP04 and WP05 was brilliant with blue damsel flies, complemented by the odd red dragon fly. As Andrew noted in March, there are many fallen trees on this walk with little sign that there is any intention to clear them. Please take extra care when close to the fallen trees in case they fall further while you are close to them.

23/03/2014 - Andrew Edwards

Walked this on 23/03/2014. Between Points 20 and 21 there are a lot of fallen trees. The Forestry Commission has closed the the section(or strongly advise against using it) If you continue walking down the side of the valley you should be able to pick up the path just before the lake. The instructions on this walk and the photos are very good and we navigated it with ease.

12/12/2012 - Ian Dodd

Thank you for a very good walk, with lots of variety. Even in winter there's plenty to see. No problems following the directions. We parked at the Blakemere centre and picked up the walk at wp 16. This adds about 1.3 miles to the walk, but you're well-placed for tea, cake and a potter round the shops after your walk.