7th July 2022: Swettenham (mod)

It was overcast and a little chilly when we met at Rose Farm Café.  There’d been some light rain earlier, but the prospects for later on were bright. Several CER members were present, but the mods were thin on the ground. I had a ride in mind to Swettenham via the picturesque private lanes of the Davenport Estate, which appealed to Steve T. This was a little far to the east for Neil and Alan who had ridden in from west of Chester, and had alternative plans to ride to Wrenbury.  So, two mod rides set off, each with just two riders.  

Steve and I set off through Cotebrook and headed towards Wettenhall before turning NE to Winsford, then Middlewich and Brereton Green. Here we took Route 71 along a bridleway towards Brereton Hall, with a tarmac surface which then turned to gravel. Crossing the A54, we took the private drive into the Davenport Estate over lovely rolling countryside and crossed the meandering River Dane.

Photos by SHa

This deposited us beside the attractive setting of Swettenham Church and the Swettenham Arms at the relatively early time of 1220. We ordered our food and sat outside in the mild, sometimes sunny weather. Looking up the club’s records I believe I was last here in 2013 with George and others on a brisk ride led by Clive. That time Clive wrote about the “somewhat expensive repast”. Today we must have paid a lot more than then, but my fish finger sandwich with chips and salad came to £9, which isn’t far out of line with similar establishments.

Soon it was time to leave.  Our outward journey had been favoured by a north westerly breeze. We had more of a headwind for our return, but it didn’t cause us too many problems.  Our return was via Twemlow Green, Goostrey and Lach Dennis. At Shipbrookhill, we stopped for ice creams at Riverside Organics Café. Then to Davenham and Moulton, before taking the rough and surprisingly wet track downhill to cross the Vale Royal Cut of the River Weaver. We chose to ride along the Whitegate Way and onto Little Budworth, Cotebrook and back to our start point. 

We’d covered 48 miles, on quite a few private roads and tracks, through some delightful countryside in pleasant weather. What better way to spend a summer’s day?

See route map and/or gpx file download.

SHa

 

5th September 2013: Swettenham (brisk)

The "last day" of the long run of summery weather found us at Rose Farm with two rides in prospect. Dave H had arrived with two friends and was going to be riding with Jim. My ride to Swettenham was an easy sell to Petar, Dave R, Steve and George. As it happened, both the rides went out towards the Whitegate Way and then across the canal and railway into Davenham albeit by slightly different routes. Dave M was out for a local ride round, so accompanied us to Cotebrook. The ride out was unremarkable except that the roads were largely deserted and we were speedy. Arriving at the Swettenham Arms just after 12:00, we were sitting in the sun discussing literary historical writing styles and munching our somewhat expensive repast. However there was a wide range of good ales.

Photograph by Clive Albany

 

We were soon setting out again at 13:00 and took the rideable bridle path through the Davenport Estate in the lovely river Dane valley. The lonely long lanes through Brereton soon found us on the outskirts of Middlewich. There is no pretty way round this town, so after a lot of housing estate, we exit on the Nantwich road bound for Winsford. Ditto here, to enable us to out onto the Wettenhall Road. It was still early, so I proposed a deviation to Tilley’s, which was seconded and approved. Towards the end of Long Lane, the leading trio turn right and as I can see Steve and Petar not too far behind, I assume they have seen us turn. The trio dawdles along the lane then waits at the Tollemarche Arms for the duo to appear but appear they do not. As they know where we all going, we set off bound for Bunbury. Guess who is sitting down at Tilley's then - the dynamic duo plus Dave H plus two friends but minus Jim. Jim had taken a fall but was OK, though he had gone home. The circular return would have been via Tarporley for a 54 mile circuit. However as George had his car at Duddon, Steve was going to Kelsall, and Dave R to Waverton, the four of us set off via Beeston and Burton bound for our respective homes. As I arrive home with 80 miles under the tyres, I can't remember when I needed to wash the bike over recent weeks - no doubt this is about to change!

See route map and/or gpx file download.

CA

 

PS: It was really an unexpected pleasure to see Mike Morley at Rose Farm café this morning. It was good to catch up on events. He was looking very well and upbeat. He hasn't been out on his bike yet but doesn’t rule it out. Hopefully we shall see him for coffee again when we are meeting not too far from Delamere.

7th May 2009: Swettenham

Photographs by Ray Hardman

Mike emailed on the 6th suggesting Swettenham as the destination, together with an outline route. A few minutes to get the route into the Garmin and all was set for the day, which was forecast to be sunny but windy.
So in bright sunshine and with a westerly wind on my back I arrived at the Windsurfing Centre to join Graham, Jim, Mike, Dave H and Dave McW the signalman (on his way to work) for tea and a chat. No dissenters on the route so eyes down for Swettenham, but keeping an occasional eye out for a good pub. Mouldsworth Hill warmed up an already warming day and the jerseys were soon opening like the leaves in the hedgerows. The lush vegetation, with its array of freshly blossoming wild flowers, was to be a constant feature of the day. We headed out via Great Budworth and Plumley at an easy pace as we knew we would have 40 miles against the wind on the return leg; so by the time we had reached Swan Green - just after Lower Peover - it was 1:30pm and lunch was beckoning as we spotted The Crown. It was warm enough for lunch in the beer garden so we could nurse our bikes while we sampled the menu. Luckily, lime and soda was just within spec. at £1:30p and we were well satisfied with the baguettes and jacket potatoes.

A little philosophy (How will society replace the pub?) and also (Where will our legless youth migrate to from the club?) and then we were ready for the off as we had only completed 30 miles and still had 40 to do. Down through Goostrey and Twemlow Green where a photo opportunity presented itself with the Jodrell Bank radio telescope in the background. Then a minor disaster: a Google map 'road' turned out to be an Ordnance Survey track to Kermincham Hall in Swettenham. Can this be a Ray route, he who does not do tracks? After reaching Somerford as the most easterly point we started to turn into the wind to head back via Brookhouse Green and Brereton Green before taking the back lanes to Middlewich to cross the Shropshire Union canal. Legs were tiring against the wind and the pace was dropping, prompting Jim to phone home to give his ETA as 'sometime this month'. Graham still had 40 miles to do back to Prestatyn so the rest of us couldn't moan. So with Dave peeling off at Cotebrook, Mike at Tarvin and Jim at Vicars Cross it was left to me to take Graham back for some carbo loading and moral support before setting him off into the wind for his final 22 miles to give him 124 for the day; the rest of us managing around 80.
RH