THE SANDSTONE TRAIL

DAY ONE
 Frodsham to The Shady Oak near Tarpoley
(16 miles)

Carolyn's Mum and Dad got us off to a great early start. Breakfast was ready and waiting for us, and after a short wait for Julie we were driven down to the start of the Trail in Frodsham High Street. All ready to go just before 9 o'clock.
It was a gorgeous morning - perfect walking weather - early sunshine in a clear blue sky, and a very favourable forecast for the rest of the day.

A couple of photos at the starting obelisk, and we were off .... starting The Sandstone Trail.
The first mile-or-so was not especially inspiring, walking up the main road and through the town, but we were gaining height all the time and were soon leaving the tarmac as we entered the wooded hillside of Frodsham Hill.

Continiung to climb steadily we were at the top of the hill, standing by the War Memorial and taking in the spectacular panorama. Views across the Mersey were stunning in the early morning light - I don't imagine the ICI chemical works or Ford Halewood plant could ever have looked more picturesque!

Heading south, we continued along the edge of the ridge with splendid views opening up between breaks in the trees. The path had obviously been very popular for centuries - every exposed section of the red sandstone cliffs was liberally sprinkled with the carved graffiti of generations past and present.
According to the guidebook, this was the "Ladies Path", with some of the carvings between 100 to 150 years old. Certainly there were some old names and dates, odes to loved ones beautifully carved in cursive with copper plate accuracy ... intermingled with the hastily scrawled modern entries .. "Kylie is a slag" and such ...

It was a nice change to have a new walking partner. Carolyn in particular was happy to have someone else around to talk about all those girlie things that women love to idle the hours away with. So happy, in fact, on one occasion so engrossed in tittle-tattle were the ladies - deciding whether they would like to live on a caravan site out here in the middle-of-nowhere - that we walked straight past the obvious finger post proclaiming "Sandstone Trail, Beeston Castle" continuing to amble along the road in completely the wrong direction!

Before too long we entered Delamere Forest. For pretty much the first time since leaving Frodsham there were other people - and quite a lot of them. There were walkers and cyclists, families and couples, old people and youngsters, all making the most of the unique opportunity afforded by good weather on an Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
Walking through the forest we diverted off to see the flooded area of Blakemere. We didn't get especially close to this newly-created santuary for wildfowl due to the compltely boggy path, but close enough to hear that the lake has been particularly successful in attracting thousands of seagulls!!

Shortly afterwards we had to stop abruptly at an ice cream van. Julie made a cursory attempt at resistance ... before tucking-in to a huge lolly. Carolyn and Steve had no such hesitation ...
By now we were getting close to Gresty's Waste, the point where Julie would leave us, so we stopped for lunch and made the phone call for "Charlie's Taxis" to arrange a pick-up in the car park.

After waving Julie a fond farewell, we set off on the second half of the day's trek, initially a gentle climb through the very pleasant woodland on Primrosewood Hill. Now it was just us two hardened treckers, we would push on. Pick up the pace and get cracking. But someone put a teashop on the route ....

...So we had a cup of tea and a scone, then we pushed on, got cracking etc...

To be honest, I don't remember a great deal about the afternoon. Don't get me wrong, it was a pleasant-enough walk, but all I remember is lots of fields and a first glimpse of a distant Beeston Castle. Then more views of an ever-so-slightly-closer Beeston Castle. Then more ... you get the picture, right?

Towards the end of the day we reached the ancient green lane of Back Lanes, the point at which we detoured into Tarporley. Under other circumstances a diversion of a mile-or-so from our route, risking life-and-limb to cross the busy A49, would never have even entered our heads, but some dark force was at work here. Something very powerful was pulling us toward the town ... and that something was chocolate!
After paying homage at the house of the hallowed bean (seriously, do make the detour - you won't regret it!), we retraced our tracks to Back Lanes and continued along the Trail proper, soon alighting at the Shropshire Canal at Wharton's Lock.

A brief stop at the picnic benches for a hot coss bun, sip of water and a phone call to "the folks" then we headed due west along the tow path to our destination for the day ... The Shady Oak.