30th December 2021: Ravensmore (mod)

 It was an inauspicious start to our final ride of the year from Utkinton – Rose Farm Café was closed, from 24th December to some date in January. Gathered outside with me were Alan, Andy B, Clive, Dave H, David M, and Keith who it was good to see, but who was only there to say hello. We discussed our options – basically finding another café that would be open. Tarporley seemed the best bet, likely to offer several choices. We waited to see if any other members arrived, but it had started to rain, so at 1015 we set off in search of coffee. Just into Tarporley High Street we found our first café, which was good enough – “Ginger and Pickles” opposite the bakery of the same name. We squeezed into what was a more upmarket establishment than we are generally used to, but this was Tarporley. 

Our needs met we left, saying goodbye to Clive and a short while later goodbye to David M. Our destination was The Farmers’ Arms at Ravensmoor, which I had previously confirmed would be open and serving food. We headed through Eaton towards Oulton Mill, turning right to head for Wettenhall and southwards into Nantwich. The southwesterly wind gave us little trouble and although the early rain had ceased, it started again as we passed through Nantwich, but by then we had only a couple of miles to reach our destination. 

A sign outside announced “under new management” and we were served fairly promptly. We chose from the light lunch menu, but Dave H and I were disappointed that the liver and onions had run out.  Nonetheless we enjoyed decent meals, although the lasagne choice we deemed to be a little small. Overall I quite liked the place. We checked the weather forecast and confirmed there would be rain for the rest of the day, though of the ‘light’ variety so the forecasts claimed.

The route back took us past Swanley Bridge, then Brindley, Bunbury and Beeston.  After the Shady Oak we split, with Dave H heading into Tarporley to rejoin his car, while the rest of us made for Huxley where we bade farewell to Andy.  That left Alan and me to follow the twists of Corkscrew Lane to Clotton and then past the turkey farm to Utkinton. In total we had travelled 35 miles.

So we ended 2021. A Happy New Year to all members, and a hope that Covid will be less of a constraint on our rides in 2022.

See route map and/or gpx file download

SH

5th August 2021 : Ravensmoor (brisk)

Only four brisk riders today and we really didn't know where to go. The rain was forecasted by lunchtime and it was quite windy from the South. So Nick proposed a run round to Ravensmoor, which we quickly assented to. Ray, John W and myself followed Nick out of Tattenhall bound for Bunbury - all at quite a lick despite the blustery wind. Passing straight though Bunbury, we take Long Lane out of Haughton towards Burland. At Ravensmoor, we turn for home via Nantwich where the wind starts to be helpful to us. 

Exiting Nantwich via Welshman's Lane, we are soon on the long and uncomfortable drag up to Wettenhall with only the following wind to make it bearable. Another Long Lane connects back to Alpraham and on to Bunbury.

The Co-op provides a sumptuous lunch as we sit on the bench at the road triangle watching the comings and goings of this busy village. Re-tracing our route this morning, we are soon back at Beeston Castle where we opt to head back to Chester via Huxley. Nick had peeled off here going back home via Bickerton.

The wind is well behind us now as we enter Chester with nearly 60 miles out and back at a surprising 17.1 mph average speed. The rain didn't really trouble us when it started around 1200, with only a couple of light showers, so well worth the effort  of getting out today.

This was a warm-up run for John and Ray who are riding a mid-Wales Audax on Saturday  - only 200Km!

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA

21st December 2017: Ravensmoor (mod)

The shortest day of the year required a relatively short ride. From Rose Farm we have favourite nearby destinations such as the Bhurtpore at Aston or the Crown at Goostrey, but I felt in need of a change.  I’d often cycled past The Farmers Arms at Ravensmoor without stopping, although I was told this had been popular with Easy Riders some years ago. The prospect of 35 or so miles seemed popular, and so six of us set off: Dave H, Keith, Jim, Trevor, Ken and myself.

We didn’t get very far, in fact we didn’t make it out of the car park, before someone from the shop asked us to move our cars out of the main car park to make room for shoppers.  Dave and Trevor duly obliged before we could hit the open road.  Then it was out on familiar lanes through Cotebrook, Wettenhall and Nantwich, to then make a loop around our destination so as not to arrive too early. The morning had been pleasant with generally no wind, mild temperatures, even a little sunshine, though with some filthy lanes.

So it was that with 20 miles covered, we arrived at The Farmers. In spite of a large Christmas lunch party being booked, we received a friendly welcome and before long were tucking into substantial meals.

The return was along similarly familiar lanes, though we diverted to avoid the usually messy lanes north of Brindley, and passed through the village of Haughton and an appealing looking pub, The Nag’s Head, which Dave identified as part of the Ribble pub chain (though a long way from the Ribble Valley). This really is a better alternative lane to the one we usually take, and for the sake of a few hundred meters of main road is worth it. We then passed on through Bunbury, by Beeston Castle and over the steep humpback canal bridge beside the Shady Oak.  Here Ken revealed that he had learnt to swim in that canal. Corkscrew Lane took us into Clotton and so back to our start.  Overall we covered almost 38 miles for the day, and enjoyed a pleasant ride as our last outing before Christmas.

SH

27th September 2012: Ravensmoor

There was a decent turnout at Utkinton: Alan, Andy, Mike M, Ray, George, Liz and Martin, Trevor, Brian Mac, myself, Dave M in civvies, and usually last but never least - Liz and Dave.

I had promised to lead a moderate ride, and the fitter guys chose to go along with this. We took off in the direction of Tarporley, then turned left up Heath Green on the old route to Eaton crossing the A49. Shortly after Eaton most of the bunch suffered a drenching from a passing Audi hitting a very large puddle.  We were soon bowling past Wettenhall towards Nantwich. It was good to hear people chatting away in a relaxed manner.  I was aware that we tend to totally trust the leader, but that my chosen route was unfamiliar to me for many stretches ahead. Well, at least if I felt like the Lone Ranger, Mike “Tonto” Morley was there to help. We were a little ahead of schedule, so Mike suggested the cycle route through Reaseheath College grounds (photo). At the edge of Nantwich town we turned under the canal, and then past the marina that has a pleasant waterside café. We turned left at St. Mary’s church, Acton that has the oldest church tower in Cheshire and some Norman carved stones inside.  Tonto had already identified a suitable lunchtime hostelry using his renowned hop-seeking senses. We arrived at opening time at the Farmer’s Arms in Ravensmoor.  Dave and Liz were a little late, as they had been hunting for duck eggs.

Photographs by Alan Jeffs

Lunch was excellent, and Mike fell in love with the waitress. We set off again, heading south towards Wrenbury.  Martin thought that the pace “was even slower” after eating, but I had eaten poached salmon and drunk no ale.  Anyway, I took the hint and turned the wick up slightly as we undulated our way in a loop taking in Wrenbury Heath, Wrenbury itself, Chorley, Larden Green and Gradeley Green.  We had to hold our nerve through a number of flooded sections of road, but otherwise, it was all quiet and pleasant. It was quite hard work for the tandem at this stage because of the slightly increased pace, number of small hills and the amount of pudding Dave had eaten. I overcame my lack of knowledge of these roads by permanently perching my reading glasses on my nose and plotting ahead whilst riding, using my handlebar map holder. We were soon heading north through Brindley and towards Tilley’s cake and coffee shop (photo).  The Chester section then headed for Beeston, and the rest were riding back to Utkinton. Unfortunately, we somehow missed the left turn for Tilstone Fearnhall and Tarporley and finished up on a longer route via Alpraham and Eaton.  Still, the rain held off and we had all clocked a very sociable 44 miles at least.

DH

15th April 2010: Ravensmoor

A sunny, 12 deg C, day is in prospect with a 12mph NE wind.  Out at 10am on the dry bike and on the way I meet Ivan loading his pantechnicon of a motorhome for a trip to Bristol; he threatens to lead us on a future ride over Mow Cop that he has recently completed.
At Manley Mere, Mike M is soaking up the sun with a pile of maps in front of him.  Brian Mac and Phil are just settling in after arranging easy payments for tea and flapjack.  Then Peter W turns up in admin mode: " I'm not joining you I just want to talk to Mike about Bikeability."  At which Brian chips in: " I have to be back by 1pm so Phil and I will do our own thing."  Mike and I sniff our armpits - no, it's not that.  Finally Dave and Liz turn up on the tandem, late, obviously: "We're only doing 40 miles round trip today so we won't be with you all the way."  Mike and I share a 'what have we done?' glance and Mike's geographical motivation leaves him: "Where are you taking us, Ray?"  Oh dear, I was hoping to hang on the back today.  "We'll go SE to cross the wind.  Ashton, Beeston, Cholmondely, Wrenbury and Ravensmoor to sample the trough at The Farmer's Arms."
The tandem isn't on top form so we slow the pace while Dave and I negotiate a suitable 20-mile mark eaterie.  He likes my suggestion of the Nag's Head at Bunbury; it has just been refurbished and re-opened with a food menu - 3 courses at £7.  We leave them at Beeston and the hammer descends.  Now, answers to this on a postcard: how does a beer swilling, business lunching, socialite like Mike maintain this level of fitness?  You can't shake him off.  All right, he doesn't get on the front but you wouldn't expect that of a financial adviser.  We make fast progress to Wrenbury and then take a nice little diversion via Sound to reach Ravensmoor from the south.
The Farmer's Arms is a pleasant place and we both order 'brewed in the keg, connoisseur's lime and soda' - it must be at £1:40 a pint - and a light lunch. After sharing one another's life stories, medical histories and National Insurance numbers we make a move into the warm sunshine for the return.  Swanley and Faddiley are dispatched but Brindley delivers Mike a flat.  He's picked up a slow from a thorn and the low pressure allowed a snakebite over the pots we've been over.  We carry on through Bunbury and Beeston and even on a soft rear (poor pump) he's hanging on, uphill doing 20mph.  We stop at the Ice Cream Farm so that I can learn the secrets of reaching super fitness via debauchery.  From there it's route 1 home for a round trip of 61 miles.
RH