7th August 2025: Whitchurch

 There was a healthy turnout at Alison’s. It was good to see Mold Andy again, but he needed to return home after coffee. Dave Matthews had also made the effort but had a repair to complete on his old car. Jim was joining us as far as his daughter’s new secret abode not far from Tilston; apparently Sophie had a nightmare vision of the moderate group turning up demanding cups of Morrison’s strong tea and devouring her jammy dodgers. The group consisted of Steve Tan, Mike Gilbert, Fiona and me. Fiona had left Elwyn at home flat on his back and unfit for cycling.

The steady climb up to Bolesworth Castle was a chance to have chat and catch-up with Jim. My route took us to Brown Knoll , around Bickerton Hill and past Cholmondeley Castle. There was a long, premature queue of mainly expensive motorhomes at Cholmondeley waiting for DevaFest to open. Fiona just managed to avoid clouting a wandering child, but we didn’t get held up. Beyond the A49 it became a little busy for a rural lane, so we headed off for Gaunton’s Bank, Marbury and Black Park on small, scenic little lanes. Mike and Steve are useful lieutenants when trying to negotiate off-piste twist and turns. The Black Bear was friendly, and everyone seemed happy with their food; having said that my selection of a mushroom risotto was underwhelming. I was reminded of Ray Stigter and me having chilli con carne at The Black Lion in Ellesmere many moons ago and thinking that it was a Vesta ready meal. Fast forward a dozen years or so and, my Black Bull ‘Vesta’ Risotto and a cuppa cost me £22 plus tip

Our return had us climbing to Wirswall with a fine view across Cheshire - see below

After crossing the Llangollen Canal at Steer Bridge we crossed the A49 and took a very quiet route through Heatherson Green which Mike enjoyed. Fiona informed us that Elwyn had managed a four-mile walk, which was good news. We arrived on our familiar steady climb past Egerton Green having by-passed the festival entrance at Cholmondeley. Dave Matthew’s well-known ‘secret lane’ took us to Gallantry Bank and then we swooped down to Peckforton and Beeston on that lane with the views, studded with lovely cottages on the side of the escarpment. We enjoyed coffee and cake at the outside café. We had welcome shade, as it was warm and sunny; the only damp we had experienced all day was some fine rain when approaching Whitchurch at lunchtime. Steve had gone well, but later informed me that he had been out of breath at the top of the odd climb, with Fiona conducting a one-way conversation with him unable to reply; still, he will be back with the heart-tuner soon, and is hoping to eventually be more Ferrari than Haas. At Tattenhall Mike, and Fiona in particular, had more miles to cover. I would have liked to offer Fiona a lift, but Steve had to feed a cat, and without my bike rack, three bikes and three riders in the Berlingo requires a lot of wheels being removed and is only worth it in an emergency. We covered thirty-seven easy-ish miles, more for Mike and sixty or so for Fiona. The company was very enjoyable, and Fiona added a welcome spice to the familiar stew.

See route map and/or gpx file download