Having spent two years living in Aberdovey, bang-splat in the middle of the Welsh coastline, I had become very accustomed to walking for hours in the glorious hills and valleys, along a constantly shifting estuary, and the stunning beaches. The contrast between the hilly Welsh coastline and West Cheshire is dramatic. West Cheshire is flat. It is very, very flat. Looking to the east, Beeston crag rises dramatically out of the plain, a nearly constant landmark. To the west the Welsh foothills are frequently visible. Between the two, there is a sense that an angry giant ran over the landscape with a huge turf roller, flattening any feature that had the temerity to poke its head above the parapet. The landscape is rich, varied and there is plenty to see. 
Northeast Wales is right on the doorstep with all its hilly scenery, the Dee valley, and some wonderful prehistoric, medieval and industrial history.
As well as plenty of countryside footpaths, there are formal gardens to visit at places like Erddig, Chirk and Ness, the ruined castles in England and Wales, and, of course the nearby heritage of Chester. Chester offers the opportunity some great rambles in town, along the Chester walls and for miles along the canals. Further afield, the opportunity for day trips is probably unparalleled with easy access to Liverpool, Shrewsbury, Telford and their wider environs, as well as nationally valued properties and their gardens.
Also see the Heritage page where other visits are described.
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Walks Suitable for Unwilling Legs
Bodnant Gardens, near Conwy
In the right hand margin of every page on the blog/home page, you will find a category in the list entitled Walks Suitable for Unwilling Legs, which gives a verdict on any walk that I think will be suitable for anyone with whose legs may not be quite as enthusiastic as the rest of them. This includes those able to walk but needing the aid of a walking stick, or those needing frequent bench stops. This is based on my father’s experiences dealing with spinal arthritis, which caused pain in his left leg and meant that he needed a stick and had to sit down fairly frequently. He was on most of those walks with me, and I always have him in mind whenever I do a walk on my own. There is now a vast range of portable seating, some incorporated into rucksacks, and others lightweight and easy to carry, and these were invaluable. I cannot comment on wheelchairs because I simply don’t know about the potential pitfalls.
The Walks and Visits
A multi-faceted walk across the fields from Churton towards Aldford (April 2021)
Following the footpaths from Churton to Aldford village shop (April 2021)
A touch of Rome just east of Churton – walking the Roman road (April 2021)
A short walk from the Aldford / Eaton Hall iron bridge towards Chester (April 2021)
The wildflower field at the Barnston memorial monument, Farndon (June 2021)
Who was Bishop Bennet and why do we walk the Bishop Bennet Way? (July 2021)
A lovely walk through the fields – part 1, from Churton to Farndon (July 2021)
A lovely walk through the fields – part 2, return leg from Farndon to Churton (July 2021)
A visit to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen – Thomas Telford’s 1805 iron trough 126ft over the Dee (November 2021)
A short walk along the river Dee at Holt, taking in Holt Castle (January 2022)
A visit to Chirk Castle for the snowdrops and daffodils (March 2022)
Day trip: The famous Bodnant Gardens near Conwy, looking fabulous in mid May 2022
New Chester Green Badge Walking Tour: Women of Chester (July 2022)
An impressive exhibit of decorated Roman tombstones in Chester’s Grosvenor Museum (July 2022)
Eaton Hall Gardens Charity Open July Day 2022 (July 2022)
A sunny, colour-filled visit to Cholmondeley Castle gardens, Cheshire (July 2022)
Day trip: Flint Castle – Edward I’s first permanent Welsh foothold (August 2022)
Day trip: A terrific visit to the Lion Salt Works in Northwich (September 2022)
A great day out at Greenfield Valley Park, Holywell (October 2022)
A super visit to the Blue Planet Aquarium on the Wirral (February 2023)
A frost-touched winter walk through the fields from Churton to Farndon and back (December 2022)
A number of visits to Chester Cathedral (formerly St Werburgh’s Abbey)
A visit to St Deiniol’s Parish Church, Worthenbury (January 2023)
A visit to Stretton Water Mill, near Farndon and Holt
Gresford All Saints’ Church (August 2023):
- Big and beautiful: All Saints’ Church in the small village of Gresford
- Gresford All Saints’ Church – exterior gargoyles and grotesques
Tŷ Mawr Country Park, including the Cefn viaduct, the Pontcysyllte aqueduct and some lovely walks (September 2023)
Archaeology, heritage, sunshine and great views at Caer Drewyn Iron Age hillfort at Corwen (September 2023)
The magnificent twin aqueduct and viaduct at Chirk along the Llangollen Canal towpath, and a very, very dark tunnel (September 2023)
Uplifting colours and fabulous designs at the glorious Grade-1 listed 17th century Rhug Chapel, Corwen (September 2023)
Terrific vies and scenery from Waun y Llyn Country Park near Caergwrle, not far from Llay (October 2023)
Day Trip: A Visit to Edward I’s 1282 Denbigh Castle and Town Walls (October 2023)
A visit to the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port (January 2024)
Day Trip: The prehistoric copper mines at the Great Orme’s Head
Day Trip: The Roman bath-house at Prestatyn
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Horseshoe Falls, Llangollen
Based in Churton 
Hi I’m visiting the white horse pub and I’m looking for a circular walk lasting a couple of hours anything you can pass on a link for please thanks Mike
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Hi Mike. The most obvious walk is to walk down Hobbs Lane (out of front door of White Horse) it’s the tiny lane on the right) and when you get to the junction (the road goes to the left, another goes to the right and a track leads straight on), keep going straight on down the track. This goes downhill and through a plantation until it reaches the Dee. Turn left onto the footpath and follow the river until you reach the Farndon-Holt bridge. Then go uphill into Farndon, past The Hare pub and Lewis’s coffee shop on the left. Almost opposite The Raven on the right, turn left into Churton Road. From there, follow one of the routes shown on this link, which will bring you back to the White Horse. https://basedinchurton.co.uk/2021/07/30/lovely-footpaths-through-the-fields-between-churton-and-farndon-part-2/ It’s about an hour and a half, but I do stop for photos. Warning: the plantation at the end of the track leading to the river is likely to be very muddy after all the rain. I’ve only ever once found it passable without wellies, and on that occasion I was heading to Aldford, but that’s a much longer circular walk.
Another walk that you might try, with less risk of mud, is in the other direction, towards Aldford. You can see the routes on a screen-grab of the online map on this link here. https://basedinchurton.co.uk/2021/04/12/churton-and-aldford-footpath-fp6/ or this one https://basedinchurton.co.uk/2021/04/06/across-the-fields-towards-aldford/. It takes me about 2 hours but again, I do stop for photos.
Another walk is here, which takes you along the Roman road. A screen-grab of the online map shows you the footpaths that allow you to make it a circular walk https://basedinchurton.co.uk/2021/04/14/a-touch-of-rome-just-east-of-churton/. Again, I’ve done it, enjoyed it, and about 1.5-2 hours.
Finally, taking only an hour and a bit, is this attractive but unexciting walk (worth remembering though for a snowy or frosty day, when it is wonderful). Map at the end of the post: https://basedinchurton.co.uk/2022/12/15/a-winter-walk-through-the-fields-from-churton-to-farndon/
Best
Andie
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Hi Andie wow fabulous insightful reply. Thank you so much.
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Do let me know how you get on, if you do one of these, or a different walk.
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