Tally ho! Here comes the hunt
WITH STEVE HULL
A RECENT walk by East Cheshire Ramblers along the Baker Way from Chester to Delamere Forest was somewhat out of our usual walking territory but provided a change from bashing through bogs and up peaks.
Since this was a linear walk, we started out by taking the train from Delamere to Chester.
After a cold wait on the platform, when we finally arrived at Chester Station it was good to get walking at a rapid pace along the Shropshire Union canal which runs close by.
First point of interest was the old shot tower on the opposite bank of the canal which provides a good route through the City’s urban fringes. After a couple of miles we were walking through arable fields to a welcome coffee stop near Christleton.
An unusual incident on the next part of the walk was an encounter at picturesque Hockenhull Platts with a hunt whose members were mostly smartly turned out in their red and black livery.
The footpath is quite narrow at this point and it was indeed fortunate that all the horses were very well behaved - despite having to negotiate the steep cobbled bridge.
We carried on to a lunch stop in the churchyard at Tarvin before walking across arable fields and through the ground of Peel Hall to by-pass Ashton village centre.
Walking along quiet country roads, the route brought us back into Delamere Forest at Brine’s Brow picnic area and then led us through the forest back to the station where the old buildings have been converted into a café, which was very welcome.
For further information go to ramblerseast chershire.org.uk