20th November 2025: Saughall

 It turned out to be a great day for a cycle ride, despite several more cautious cyclists deciding not to risk the forecasted cold. (George W—there was no frost, just a sunny but not-so-warm day. Hope to see you next time!)

At first, it looked like I would be the only moderate rider, but just before we set off, Keith B asked to join me as he only had a vague route in mind. With that sorted, we headed out at a brisk pace towards Great Barrow and Mickle Trafford. The wind had a definite chill, but the views more than made up for it—clear, bright, and superb all around.

Following the route, we continued towards Upton Heath and Backford. As we passed Chester Zoo, Keith recalled a ride with Dave H and others when they’d come across several gorillas and chimps temporarily kept outside due to a fire in their main enclosure. Thankfully, there were no chimp or tiger escapes this time, so we pressed on safely towards Stanney Oaks and Capenhurst.

Along the way, we noticed a house with several windows bricked up. I mentioned that this was a remnant of the 18th-century window tax—always good to slip a bit of history into the ride.

We then made our way to Parkgate Road and on to Saughall, where we stopped at The Greyhound Pub. Keith observed that the place seemed to be run by men “batting on the other side,” but this didn’t detract in the slightest from the excellent homemade steak-and-ale pie with chips and peas. By this point, we’d covered 20 miles, so a warm lunch was very welcome.

Leaving the pub, we cycled on toward Blacon, taking the full force of the cold wind head-on. Staying positive, we carried on to Sealand Road and joined the cycle path along the River Dee. The sun had come out by then, making it feel a touch warmer—though still definitely chilly.

Passing Chester Racecourse, I shared the origin of the term “Gee Gees”: it comes from Henry Gee, the Mayor of Chester in 1534, whose support for horse racing helped create the nickname still used today.

From there, we continued towards Hoole via the river and eventually joined the Millennium Greenway—a lovely stretch leading us back to Meadow Lea.

All in all, a good day out: cold, but enjoyable and rewarding in many ways. We clocked up 36 miles, which felt just right considering the weather.

RB

See route map and/or gpx file download