Beeston Castle and the Peckforton Hills
7 people attending
13 places left
A 12 mile approx. circular route across Cheshire farmlands, the Peckforton Hills, Bulkeley Hill, The Sandstone Trail and a visit to Beeston Castle.
Setting off from the former Cheshire Candle Workshops, we’ll make our way across farm fields and tracks, straight towards our first stop at Beeston Castle, which was built in the 1220s by Ranulf, Earl of Chester, on a rocky sandstone crag 250m above the surrounding Cheshire Plain.
Entrance prices to Beeston castle itself are below and per person, or free for English Heritage members:
Book online prices:
Adult
£13.00 with donation
£11.80 without donation
On the day prices:
Adult
£15.50 with donation
£14.00 without donation
Ticket Booking link: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/
This is an optional visit which will be discussed with the group in the days leading up.
After visiting the castle we head across fields to join the Shropshire Union canal.
The canal lies in the counties of Staffordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire in the north-west English Midlands. It links the canal system of the West Midlands at Wolverhampton with the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal at Ellesmere Port Cheshire 66 miles (106 km) distance.
After walking a section of canal we head across tracks & fields towards Burwardsley & Bulkeley Hill where we join the Sandstone Trail, where the dense trees give way to splendid views south and east towards Whitchurch and Nantwich.
Running from the ancient market town of Frodsham on the Mersey estuary in the north, south to the Georgian Whitchurch nestled in rural north Shropshire, the Trail stretches for 55 km / 34 miles along Cheshire's 225 million year old Sandstone Ridge.
From here we weave our way back towards the start point and an optional pint at the Pheasant Inn.
Well-behaved OutdoorDogs are very welcome. Note: leads will be required in areas with livestock, and we will be crossing stiles frequently.
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Photos provided by event leader with permission for use
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Gaiters: recommended for wet weather or boggy conditions
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
You'll need to bring a packed lunch with you, along with enough water to keep you hydrated during the walk (recommended 1-2 litres).
Snacks for during the walk to fuel up
Once we set off we won’t be passing near any shops so please make sure you have everything you need before arriving for the walk.