3rd July 2025: Tatton Park

 Despite good weather there was only a small turnout at Delamere Station and only three members for the moderate ride. I knew that Dave H was on holiday and that therefore I would be asked if I had a ride, so I had come armed with two. So, when the question was asked I opted for what would be a 50-mile round trip stopping at the Bear's Paw in High Leigh for lunch.

 The three of us (Andy B, Keith and I) set off following familiar roads to Hatchmere, Norley and Acton Bridge. At this point Keith queried where we were going. He had been sitting at the next table and had misheard 'Bears Paw' as 'Bhurtpore'. The latter is a popular destination for us but we were heading in completely the wrong direction to get there. I put him right and we continued to Little Leigh, Comberbach and Great Budworth. There followed a long cycle up Budworth Road and Old Hall Lane to cross the M6 and then a right to take the new underpass under the recently built dual carriageway. After a short run up the old road we turned right and headed towards Knutsford.

 By-passing the centre we found our way to the entrance to Tatton Park, intending to cycle straight through and out the other side. However, Andy had mentioned that he preferred cafes to pubs for lunch so I suggested the National Trust cafe in the park and Keith agreed. So, we headed there but didn't get very far. We are used to getting held up by cows and sheep in the road but this time it was deer crossing our path. They were completely oblivious to our presence and didn't seem to care that they were keeping us from our lunch. 'Revenge is sweet' as the saying goes and, in this case, very tasty as Keith and I both ordered double venison burgers. Yummy!

After lunch we continued our journey through the park and headed for the village of Rostherne and turned towards High Leigh. After passing the Bears Paw, our original intended lunch stop, we turned into Swineyard Lane and then through Appleton Thorn and Stretton, passing over the M56 and then back in the process. I was heading for Aston and Keith led us briefly on a slightly different route before leaving us for home. Andy and I carried on through Aston then dropped down the main road towards Frodsham. As we neared the bridge over the River Weaver it was clear that there was some hold up as could see traffic queueing up the hill ahead. To avoid it we followed NCR 5 round the back roads before emerging in the centre of Frodsham and beyond the blockage. We couldn't avoid the main road to get out of the village but once we were clear we turned left onto the quieter Tarvin Road. However, we then faced a stiff climb to get us up onto the Manley Road.

Neither of us wanted to go back to Delamere Station so we turned towards Chester. As soon as I got to a point that Andy recognised he left me to head home. He is a faster rider than me and had much further to go. If you are going to follow this route the gpx file will show the full 50 miles. I clocked up 62 by the time I got home and Andy would have done considerably more.

 TC

See route map and/or gpx file

4th May 2023: Little Bollington (mod)

 It was dry and bright as I rode out to Delamere, but there was a blustery wind from the east which would affect us during our ride today. A dozen Easy Riders gathered at the Station Café - Electric Jim and Trevor were doing their own thing, Dave H was doing his and Neil arrived exhausted after battling the east wind all the way from Gresford and would do his own thing as well.

That left and octet of Dave H, Steves Hu and T, Alan, Ever Ready Ray, Clive, George and Roy who was still recovering from his collision with Dave H four weeks ago. Our destination was the Swan with Two Nicks at Little Bollington, one of Dave H’s favourites and on our list of favoured lunch stops, but somewhere that we haven’t visited for over four years.

Our route out took us via Hatchmere, Norley and Crowton to Acton Bridge, where we enjoyed the run down Acton Lane to the swing bridge. Our climb up it later in the day would be less enjoyable! Having crossed the A49, we climbed out of the Weaver Valley heading for Comberbach.  Just before there, near the Cheshire Riding School, the lane is badly potholed and these have been marked up for repair. Someone has written ‘Do all of it!’ in spray paint on the road here. Perhaps we should do the same on the road from Delamere Station to Hatchmere!

Going via Budworth Heath, we followed Budworth Road towards Knutsford. The strong east wind made itself felt all along here until we diverted from the route of four years ago to take ‘Tan’s Tabley Transfer’.  This allows safe crossing of the busy A556 close to where it intersects with the M6, but requires a ride along a very rough section of road past Tabley Moss Wood.

Entering Tatton Park at the Knutsford entrance, we were rewarded with the sight of a herd of red and fallow deer.

Leaving the park via the Rostherne entrance, we crossed the A556 near Bucklow Hill and turned to the east again to run through Arthill across the M56 and A56, arriving at Little Bollington just before 1 pm.

The Swan with Two Nicks gets its name from the practice of swan upping. Swan upping was the means of establishing a swan census, as all swans belonged to the Sovereign. Under a 15th century Royal Charter, the Vintners’ Company and the Dyers’ Company, two Livery Companies of the City of London, are entitled to share in the Sovereign’s ownership and it is they who conduct the census through a process of ringing the swans’ feet. Those caught by the Dyers and Vintners are identified as theirs by means of a further ring on the other leg. Today, only swans with cygnets are caught and ringed. 

Originally, the two companies made their own marks on the birds’ beaks: one nick for a dyers’ bird and two for a vintners’; today the two Companies use their own rings. This practice provided the name of the pub. This was a 16th century pun, the word “nick” also meaning “neck”.

Food and drink orders were quickly placed and we were able to sit outside in the warm sunshine. As usual the food was of a good quality, although a little more expensive than it was four years ago. Nevertheless, the ciabattas, fish and chips and sandwiches went down well. The only blot on the landscape was the sight of Dave H polishing his helmet, but the less said about that, the better.

The peleton...

....gathers....

..and leaves.

Our return journey took us along the busy A56, but we soon diverted along Spring Lane to Oughtrighton and past Lymm High School. After another short stretch along the A56, we hung left into Crouchley Lane past Lymm Rugby Club and then right into Mag Lane where we crossed the M56 once more. From Sworton Heath, we were soon cycling through the former RAF base at Stretton, which was set up to protect Manchester and Liverpool during WW II. Parts of it are still in use for private aircraft.

Crossing the A559 and Antrobus , we then followed the small lanes through Frandley to reach Little Leigh, where the road was clogged with cars as it was turning out time at the local primary school. Crossing the A49 at the swing bridge proved difficult and it was only due to Steve Hu’s selfless action of walking his bike across that we were able to reach the other side. The hill up Acton Lane provided a test of stamina to all of us. At the top Dave H decided to cover the rest of the ride at his own pace and so fell off the back of the peloton. The ride up into Norley provided our last challenge and so we arrived back at Delamere a few minutes before 4 pm with 49 miles covered.

Thanks to all participants for their support and company and special thanks to Alan for the photos.

ST

See route map and/or gpx file download

10th March 2016: Tatton Park (mod)

Some of the moderates were elsewhere, caravanning and skiing, for instance.  Steve Tan and Dave Matthews had ridden out, but couldn't take part. Sue Hubbard had also joined us for a coffee. There were seven moderates up for my proposed ride to Tatton Park: Brian Macca, Trevor, George, Mike McC, Andy, Paul and myself. We headed for Dutton Locks via New Pale. Trevor broke a spoke with his uphill efforts, and decided the sensible decision was to return home. Dark Lane, with its pretty cottages, plunged us down into Kingsley, and we exited along Roddy Lane. 

It was very pleasant cycling alongside the twinkling Weaver.  We ground up the bank to Willow Green, over the Trent and Mersey canal, and having crossed the A533 reached Frandley by the quiet Hall Lane. The little lanes west of Arley Hall are picturesque and peaceful, and amongst my favourites. Past Pennypleck House we crossed the runway of the old Royal Navy airfield. High Leigh was passed, and the two most vocal of the troops, i.e. Macca and Andy were becoming a little restless. " Dad, when are we stopping?" "Dad I'm hungry, when are we going to eat?" " Ten past one? Your kiddin' aren't you?!" So, we put the pedal to the metal a little, registering 18m.p.h. on the electronic board as we passed the new motorway link road site before Bucklow Hill. Soon we were winding into Rostherne with its lovely mere and old church, and then on to the Tatton Park entrance. 

Photographs by Brian MacDonald

Brian kindly took a picture of us outside The Hall, and then we headed to the Stables for lunch. Bang on time. Most of us were happy with our food, but Brian was understandably underwhelmed by his costly tart. Not for the first time in his life, I bet! We left at 14:07. My aim was to be back before 16:20. The route back was two miles or so shorter, and deliberately intended to be on quicker roads. We rode south past Tatton Mere, and touched Knutsford before heading west to Tabley Hill, Great Budworth, Comberbach and Little Leigh. 

I was tired when I started this ride, and the terrain ahead was likely to be quite demanding. Hard work up to Acton Bridge, a pleasant little lane through the hamlet of Onston, and then another hard grind up Norley Bank. George and I had both suffered with mud in our mudguards, and this seemed to be slowing me on the little uphill lane by the Tiger's Head. Although too many cakes and too many years may have had something to do with my Manchester United like energy levels. More up and down on the Delamere Big Dipper. Then one last climb past The Goshawk. Mike considerately accompanied me back. Paul and Macca had been off their bikes for a while recently, but you wouldn't have known it. 52 miles at a nice pace, a good workout and very agreeable company.          

DH

3rd June 2010: Bucklow Hill & Tatton Park

It was a good turnout at the windsurfing centre with 7 solos and one tandem.  The centre was fraught with activity with a long line of huge cars disgorging single children for a watersports event.
Sat in the sun: it was almost difficult to get on the bikes and I agreed to try and deliver a route to Brian's chosen destination of Tatton Park.
The outward leg, almost immediately precipitating a peel off from Ray H, took us to Hatchmere, Norley and Acton Bridge and I admit, I didn't really know where I was at some points.  We followed the CCW signs, then to Great Budworth.  My first new route took us through the manicured parkland of Arley Hall where of course we all walked the short stretch of tarmac that was a path rather than bridleway.
Failing to find a pub at the right time, we eventually found the Swan at Bucklow Hill where good value 2 course meals at two for £12 were demolished.  The lime and soda ranged between 51p and free!  That's a new one on me.
The afternoon started with a splendid ride through the summery Tatton Park to Knutsford, then into the series of lanes to Lach Dennis and Moulton where the group unintentionally split with the back markers seeking out the track under the railway to cross the Weaver.  Those off the front reappeared just after Whitegate.
The dawdlers opted for an ice cream at the Cotebrook Shire Horse Centre just minutes before they shut up for the day, with departures to parked cars or riding home from there.  Jim and I were impressed however to find a previously unnoticed lake by Lime Tree Farm on our way back to Utkinton.
A successful day in grand summer warmth was pleasing all round and thanks go to all those who followed my erratic leadership.

DHill