16th October 2014: Irby Mill (mod)

With most regular riders in the Lake District on Dave H’s special ride I wasn’t at all sure that there would be many, or indeed, any riders meeting at Ness Gardens.  On entering the tea room I was therefore delighted to find Ray already halfway through a cappuccino and eager to ride.  Interestingly we had both cycled out from Chester with a planned easy ride to Irby Mill with the aim of getting back early before the forecast rain arrived at a predicted 16:00.
Once the obligatory coffee/tea and scones were consumed we were on our way up to Ness to then take the usual lane bypassing Willaston on the way to Raby.  Determined to stick to the lanes as far as possible we continued on to Thornton Hough, Brimstage and Storeton enjoying the perfect autumn weather.  With the sun shining and clear skies after the overnight rain the views were stunning.  Entering Storeton we debated the pros and cons of the Landican vs Barnston/Pensby route.  I had heard that the Landican route had been improved, so what the hell, we’d give it a go and with time in hand we had little to lose.  Well, it had been improved: not perfect but no worse than the Wirral Way was our conclusion.  From here it was only a short ride to Irby Mill skirting the edges of Heswall and Irby.
Irby Mill was closed when we arrived at 11:45 but we chatted and relaxed at one of the outdoor tables soaking up the sun until 12 noon.  No wonder the pub is Camra recommended with something like eight cask ales to choose from.  I tried the Trojan Horse, a delightful black beer, while Ray went for a lighter summer ale: both superb.  To eat it had to be the lunchtime ‘small’ fish and chips that left us wondering just how big the full size version would be.  A great pub but after chatting for well over an hour it was time leave.
Determined to avoid the traffic we decided on a return route along the Wirral way.  From the pub we skirted Royden Park before dropping down to Caldy where we joined the Wirral Way for an easy ride back to Neston.  Here we decided to use the Burton Marshes route and the Millennium cycleway to return to Chester.
Halfway across the boardwalk section of the Burton Marshes route we were flagged down by a cyclist heading towards Neston but asking for directions to Garden City!  We invited him to join us rather than try to provide directions through the industrial estate and it emerged that he had arrived from Hungary two days earlier and had accommodation in Garden City.  As a matter of priority he had just bought a second hand bike and was out exploring while looking for a job.  At the Millennium Cycle Bridge he knew where he was and we directed him back to Garden City before we continued on to Chester.
Back in Chester by 15:30 we missed the rain, which started half an hour later.  A perfect day’s cycling in true CER tradition.  Only 25 miles from Ness Gardens back to Ness Gardens but 47 miles overall Chester to Chester.

BW

19th September 2013: Irby Hill

I’d been looking forward to today for quite some time: my first day back cycling with CER after an enforced five months out of the saddle.  A start from Ness gardens promised an easy first ride, so even though the wet weather didn’t put me off, it did confirm the decision to drive to the start!  By 10:00 I was the only one there although Steve turned up a few minutes later, to be followed by Dave H in his civvies.  Given his extended tale of woe and jobs to be done, including his new post of kennel master, we were honoured that he made the time to join us for coffee.  Steve and I agreed a route: Eastham Ferry, Port Sunlight, Storeton, Barnston and Irby for lunch at Irby Mill or the Farmers Arms.  At half past the hour Ivan arrived to make a riding group of three.

From Ness Gardens we head up to Ness and turn right towards Willaston to join the Wirral Way for a couple of miles.  Then it’s the back roads to Childer Thornton and on to Eastham Ferry where we stop to admire the hazy view across the Mersey where it’s just possible to make out the grey mass of the Anglican Cathedral through the drizzle.  Oh the joys of cycling!

Photograph by Ivan Davenport

Leaving Eastham ferry behind we take the off-road cycle path along the coast before turning off along the disused rail line path to Port Sunlight.  Port Sunlight is gearing up for it’s annual festival when we arrive.  We make do with a leisurely tourist circuit from the Heritage Centre to the Lady Lever Gallery and back, before leaving the town to climb through the suburbs to Storeton.  It is now decision time: Landican or Barnston?  Personally I prefer the more scenic Landican route but bearing in mind the weather we opt for Barnston and find ourselves heading straight into the wind.  Ivan kindly goes in front to give me some shelter but I just can’t stay with him and so struggle on to the main road where we at last get some shelter.

On the way through Pensby Steve notes that it’s already lunchtime and Ivan consults the Good Pub Guide on his smartphone and announces that we are only a few miles from a list of “good” pubs.  I was pleased to note that his list included the intended lunch stop of Irby Mill.  No change of plan needed, so it was only a few more minutes before we were flying through Irby and turning into Irby Mill pub off the roundabout.

Irby Mill proved to be much better than I remembered: a brilliant choice of ales including Tribute, Two Hoots and Autumn Red plus an excellent range of food.  Steve’s choice of fish and chips saw the arrival of the largest battered fish imaginable.  Another venue to add to the repeat visits list then.

14:00 hours saw us ready to leave the pub with the decision made to head back along the Wirral Way.  A left turn at Royden Park and we were heading downhill to the coast to join the Wirral Way in Caldy for a leisurely ride through to Parkgate.  From here on, we looked out for a link path down to the old docks and the Harp Inn but missing the link we came off the Wirral Way by the rail bridge and took the road to descend from the mini-roundabout to the Harp and onto the Burton Marshes link path.  The newly opened farm café, aka Net’s Coffee Shop, along here proved too much of a temptation and we stopped for coffee and cake where Steve admitted that he had eaten more cake since he started cycling than ever before! 

After a relaxing break Ivan headed back to Chester across Burton Marshes while Steve and I climbed back up to Ness Gardens to complete an enjoyable 33 mile ride.  Thanks go to Ivan and Steve for staying with me on my first ride back.

.

BW