27th November 2025 : Davenham (mod+)

It’s an hour’s ride from home to Delamere Station so I was pleased to get there and re-fuel with a coffee and a flapjack bar. Andy W’s bike was outside along with Steve T’s. Soon Ivan, Ray S, Dave M, Jim, Toby, and Neil arrived. Ivan was just out for a breakfast bap, and Neil had a ride looping back into Chester somehow. I’m assuming that Andy, Dave and Jim stayed a while and rode back home.

I had filched a ride from the CER’s 560+ routes on PlotaRoute, amended it and presented as “Today’s Ride”. Ray was up for the ride and I encouraged Steve to join as well. We set off the usual way towards to Hatchmere onto the new smooth surface of the previous “mountain track surface” of a road that we had to endure all those years. Of course it didn’t last as we soon get back onto the mountain track surface until the next bit a smooth surface – why not do the whole job in one go – it must be cheaper overall! At Hatchmere, a darkly clad rider appears coming out of the Delamere Forest road – it’s a “just-in-time” Young Chris. So we are now four.

The lunch target today is Oakwood Marina cafe on the Lach Dennis road out of Davenham. At 31 miles away, we would need a decent lunch today. Out via Aston, we head for Antrobus and onto the tiny lanes out to the Second World War airfield near the Lymm interchange. A burn eastwards and a right down Moss Lane, takes us into prime Cheshire farming land and on a six mile run to Pickmere.

Wincham comes and goes as we head for the dilapidated “Smoker” pub turning off and into the quiet lanes of Plumley. It’s not far now via Lach Dennis and in to the Oakwood marina cafe as stomachs are rumbling. This is the second time I have been here and three of us have the small breakfast which was very good and keenly priced. 

I reassured the group that it was only 13 miles back to Delamere. We leave bound for Davenham, where I hadn’t realised that Steve needed to ride back to Runcorn so he peels off here for a similar distance back to his home. We three therefore take the Moulton Transfer to Whitegate and then the ride up Cinder Hill toward Little Budworth thence to Cotebrook.

As there was no need to ride back to the start, we three ride back to Chester as if from Rose Farm. The route round was 44 miles, but with the out and back, all of us racked up 65-70 miles today. The weather held up all day, with some sunshine and no rain. There were long clear views over the Cheshire countryside and a surprising 10C or more.

So as often happens, the weather was better than forecasted, the traffic was light and the lanes were reasonably clear of detritus. So my thanks to Steve, Ray and Chris for their good company today. 

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA

20th February 2025 : Davenham (Mod+)

I had a very early hospital appointment, so decided to drive out to Waverton and ride on from there. On the way, I espied Ray S cycling in the outskirts of Guilden Sutton on his way via Waverton to Utkinton.  I set off and few miles on from Waverton I only caught up with him as he had stopped to adjust his clothing as it had started to rain (the first of many times today!). I donned my rainwear and we made our way up the ever deteriorating roadways to Rose Farm to find John M already there.

Very soon Alan and Steve Hu arrived, along with Dave M, Trevor, Nick and finally Keith. The weather forecast was not encouraging as we looked out across the Cheshire Plain but six of us decided to take on my ride to Davenham. The route was out via Kelsall in a clockwise direction taking in some roads we haven't been down for a while. The route was very familiar out via Delamere Forest and down to Acton Bridge. There was the odd stop to take off outer layers as the air temperature rose to double figures (at last!). However, this didn’t last as the rain became more persistent as we waited for the Weaver bridge to be re-closed after swinging open for river traffic.

Before Comberbatch, Alan decided to return as he had to get back home for an unplanned appointment so Steve decided to accompany him back to Rose Farm and their cars. We four cycled on in the light rain to Marbury Country Park. We take the old lane through the park towards Northwich diverting off across the salt marsh via Neumann’s Flash to Wincham where we pass through the industrial estate bound for Wincham village proper.

The lunch stop was planned to be either at Riverside Organic cafe or to visit for the first time Oakwood Marina cafe nearby. As John said he had been there before and it was ok, Oakwood it was then. To get there we have to negotiate the A556 at Smoker's Brook traffic lights and then meander through pleasant Plumley and onwards to Lach Dennis. It's a short run then to the marina at 28 miles ridden.

Although quite small, the cafe was welcoming with all facilities to hand. The food was very good and reasonably priced. As we sat there enjoying lunch, the rain came through at 45 degrees as the wind had picked up and thus would be an unwelcome feature of the 12 mile ride back to Rose Farm. We set off as the rain had temporarily abated but not for long. In and out of Davenham I planned to get to Whitegate via the canal path and the golf course. 

The old roadway just after the blue bridge, was in a very poor condition and frankly, if I knew what was also in store a little further on, I would have re-planned the route. We carry on finding a tank training ground section of gravel and deep muddy pools followed by a very muddy section before hitting old tarmac again. We all got through unscathed and smooth tarmac welcomed us into the Vale Royal golf club grounds.

The run now is straightforward up Whitegate hill and through Little Budworth and Cotebrook and the final rise up and over to Utkinton with 40 wet miles ridden. Nick and John had driven over so they just had to climb up to the cafe whereas we continued on to Waverton. Here, I loaded a very dirty bike into the car's boot, and Ray cycled on back home with mid-60 miles ridden compared to my mid-50 miles.

I noticed now that the sun was out and the air temp was 15C! Despite the rain and the headwind and the poor roads and that Weaver-side track to the golf club, we all had enjoyed being out and about in wet Cheshire today with some sun and heady double figure temperatures for a change. 

So thanks to all for supporting the ride and apologies for the Weaver mountain bike section!

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA