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 Willington to Bickerton Route Description  17km (10.7 miles)
 Willington to Bickerton Map
A route with splendid views of Peckforton Castle and Beeston Castle.
| Kelsall and Willington are at the heart of Cheshire's fruit farming country. Soft fruits flourish in the light, sandy soils, while the ridge protects the plants from the chill, easterly winds.
From John Street the Trail heads south, with splendid views towards the Peckforton Hills. Beyond Wood Lane is Old Gypsy Lane, one of the many green lanes worn by farm workers and traders from the surrounding towns. Often the hedges are centuries old and incredibly rich in wildlife, providing food and shelter for butterflies, birds and other creatures.
Fishers Green is a small hamlet dating back to the seventeenth century. This is the start of Cheshire's dairy country, where rich grassland on heavy soils produces fine quality milk and cheese. The farmhouse, like many in Cheshire, had a cheese parlour on the cool, north side. The Nantwich Show, held every July, hosts one of the largest cheese displays in Europe. |
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The Trail crosses the Shropshire Union Canal at Wharton's Lock. Originally the Chester Canal, it was built in the 1770's to link the manufacturing towns in the Midlands with the ports on the River Mersey.
| Soon Beeston Castle looms large. This is one of the most distinctive landmarks in Cheshire, perched on a crag almost 100m high. It was built in 1337 by Rannulf Earl of Chester, to defend the Welsh border. Today peregrine and raven make the most of its natural defences, nesting in safety.
Peckforton Castle, modelled on a Norman castle, was built in the 1840s for Admiral Tollemache, using sandstone quarried on the Estate. Listen out for tiny wrens and goldcrests searching for insects as you walk through the woodlands. |
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A gentle climb from Peckforton Gap up to Bulkeley Hill is rewarded with excellent views eastwards to the Peak District and Cannock Chase. Huge sweet chestnut trees spiral skywards, casting a welcome shade in summer.
The Trail swings west to Rawhead, the highest point on the route at 227m (746'). The red cliffs, sculpted by the wind and the rain, are spectacular, while the views to the west on a clear day are equally stunning.
The chimney of the copper mine just by the A534 is a rare, industrial relic in this rural landscape. The mine was worked intermittently for over 200 years but the copper return was poor and the mine has been idle for many years.
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