It was getting on towards 11:00 by the time we were on the road leading up to the Delamere Forest where a left turn after the railway bridge took us onto the lumpy road through the Forest to Hatchmere. By Norley the weather was changing and it was beginning to warm up a little, with feeling started to return to frozen fingers. Through Whitegate, Marton Green and Little Budworth it was really quite pleasant and such a surprise given the weather forecast. However with our late start it was after 12:00 by the time we approached Cotebrook and the decision to stop for lunch at the Alvanley Arms was not in dispute.
Inside we grabbed a table near the fire and made ourselves comfortable. Robinsons Cumbria Way bitter proved tempting to most of us although Dave favoured the Pims No 3 Brandy Cup Winter Warmer to some derision from the beer drinkers. Not enough brandy though for Dave’s taste so with encouragement from Ivan the landlady made him a brandy winter warmer special! With everyone now satisfied, excellent food and good conversation it was soon time to leave the warm.
Outside it had turned cold again and with darkening skies we braved the trucks on the A49 before the first right brought us back on the lanes. It also brought snow: light at first but rapidly increasing as we headed towards Willington Corner and Oscroft. Today the weather wasn’t going to settle into a predictable pattern and before long the snow was stopping and it was warming up again! By Hollowmoor Heath the group had split into two with Ivan, Martin and Liz in the leading group and Bryan, Jim and Dave in the second slower group. Back at Manley Mere there was no sign of the lead group so after saying goodbye to Dave (heading back to Warrington) Jim and I set off on the final leg back to Chester to find the lead group coming back towards us having taken the B road from Great Barrow.
Only a short circular 29 miles from Manley Mere but nevertheless a very enjoyable day out.
See route map and/or gpx file download.
BW
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