14th October 2010: Wettenhall

A cloudy and dry day in prospect, albeit only 12C, found a baker’s dozen ready for the off from the Ice Cream Farm.  A rear wheel puncture had delayed Bryan and he arrived with 5 minutes to spare so the route was hastily agreed.  The riders were a mix of the usual suspects plus the recently joined members returning for some more pleasure and pain.  Except for one or two, we were in our winterised clothing – and needed it was. The route was designed to warm us up gradually, culminating in a decent climb at Willington. Out via Huxley, Hoofield and Clotton and on to Chapel Lane in Willington, we started to climb up passing Summertrees Café near the top of Primrose Hill. Usually the panoramic view from Tirley Lane is exceptional, but today, with mist and grey cloud, it was a shadow of its best. On along the ridge bearing right into Quarry Lane then Knights Lane, the roller coaster route took us down to Cotebrook. The plan was to take lunch at the Boot & Slipper pub in Wettenhall. An earlier phone call confirmed that they could take us OK so we continued through Little Budworth to seek out Whitegate Way. This is part of NCR 71 that follows the old railway line towards the Weaver canal in Winsford.

Photograph by Brian MacDonald

The plan was to negotiate through Winsford (as quickly as possible!) using cycleway 75. Winsford will not win any town beauty competitions so once we espied the blue cycleway signs and we were soon out on our way to Wettenhall. We arrived on time at 13.15 with 22 miles under our belt. An hour and half later we emerged having had a decent, albeit slow-to-arrive, meal apiece. Just as we were setting off another rear wheel puncture was spotted by Graham on Jane’s bike so there was a slight delay before we set off on route 75 bound southwards towards Nantwich. Briefly using the busy main roads around Burford, we soon found Swanley Lane and then Springe Lane bound for Chorley.  At the A49 crossroads the Cholmondeley Arms pub looked inviting on this cold grey afternoon but we pushed on skirting Cholmondeley Castle on our way to Harthill. The 375ft of descent down from Harthill is a real pleasure especially as we were carrying straight on to Tattenhall rather than turning right half way down at Dark Lane. Those going back to the Ice Cream farm for their car assist trip home had cycled 44 miles, while those of us heading back to Chester would have rode 65-70 miles. The weather could have been better but at least there was only a little drizzle in the air – no doubt good for mid October.
See route map and/or gpx file download.
CA