29th April 2010: Goostrey

At Rose Farm Brian Mac was just arriving and Bryan, Ray S and Ivan were assembled when I arrived shortly followed by Dave Heath, glowing healthily from the exertion of his trip up to Utkinton. Clive and his wife popped in for a coffee prior to a walk as Clive’s eye operation the previous Friday ruled out a ride for this week. Liz and Dave P then rolled up on the tandem so there were eight of us actually riding.

Photographs by Mike Morley

Mike had a route suggestion that would take advantage of Ray’s absence to explore some tracks the other side of Goostrey but as usual his plan of the route was somewhat nebulous and would need the assistance of Bryan to reach Bradford Mill to cross the Weaver. We set off in reasonable weather and Bryan introduced the first track by whizzing off up the Whitegate Way to reach the Salt Union depot. Mike now took over and the bridge and tunnels were negotiated and up the track, opting unwisely for a left at the top that meant negotiating numerous speed bumps on the path – I could hear Ray Hardman groaning even though he was not with us! Through Davenham and a new lane for Bryan that Google had assured Mike was a through road for vehicles. This may well be the case but only for the owner of Whatcroft Hall whom has the route firmly barricaded by an impressive electronically controlled entrance gate! A swift route revision meant a little more time spent on the A530 but we were soon back on the lanes and in the pleasant Cheshire countryside again where Bryan was almost overwhelmed by the preponderance of dandelions on the verges. The muted atmosphere at the chosen lunch stop did not overwhelm Mike – on Saturday the Red Lion in Goostrey had been buzzing and the service spot on – today it more resembled a morgue and the food took almost an hour to reach our table. It was however well worth waiting for and apart from the Black Sheep bitter the other real ales were adequate compensation.

The delayed departure and threatening sky meant that it was decision time whether to ride directly back home without completing the attractive loop to Swettenham and Brereton but common sense seemed to desert us, and the loop it was! Out of Goostrey to Twemlow Green and via Kermincham to descend to the first crossing of the Dane via the ford or clapper bridge for the faint hearted like me then up to Swettenham to pass the church and Swettenham Arms and take the track back over the Dane via a bridge in a very attractive valley near Davenport Hall.  Taking the lane alongside Brereton Country Park we were soon back on a bumpy track and impeded by one of the Cheshire Set unloading her pony trailer – charming girl though – and after passing St Oswald’s Church and Brereton Old Hall we soon emerged victorious at the Gatehouse to rejoin the A50 for a short while before diverting to take up our last track of the day  (“Thank God for that” said Ivan the Tolerable) back over a lovely little cobbled stone bridge and past the Hermitage back into Goostrey. Our route then resumed normality via Lower Peover, and Plumley to cross the A556 – here it finally dawned on me that I was getting wetter than I thought but the waterproof at least provided some warmth as the temperature, like the rain was still falling! Passing through Great Budworth and Comberbach we reached Little Leigh where Dave Heath pealed off for home while the rest of us crossed the A49 and along the Weaver Navigation to cut across to Kingsley and on to Delamere. Here Ray S, Liz and Dave P opted for the Forest route home while the rest of us took Brian Mac back to Utkinton only to find that his vehicle been impounded for the night! This was a late trip for us but despite the weather we had taken in some unusual tracks and most seemed to have enjoyed the experience. While Brian Mac joined Bryan for the ride back to Chester I headed home. Oh how welcome was my hot bath (bugger Global Warming – I was freezing!) Distance for me just short of 70 miles so the Chester boys must have clocked up over 80!
See route map and/or gpx file download.
MM