Beeston Castle and the Peckforton Hills
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A 16km / 10 mile circular route across Cheshire farmlands, the Peckforton Hills, Rawhead, The Sandstone Trail and a visit to Beeston Castle. Expect very muddy paths.
Setting off from the former Cheshire Candle Workshops we will head north and east on farming fields and tracks straight toward our first stop at Beeston Castle. Built in the 1220s by Ranulf, Earl of Chester, on a rocky sandstone crag 250m above the surrounding Cheshire Plain. Entrance up to the castle itself is up to £11 per person or free for English Heritage members. This is an optional visit which will be discussed with the group in the days leading up.
After lunch at the base of Beeston Castle our travels take us southwards on the Sandstone Trail up on to the Peckforton Hills and Bulkeley Hill 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.
Turning north and west we will climb again to the trig point at Raw Head which looks out west over Wrexham and into North Wales, then back east and north over fields again to the car park, and a well earned 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 on other ODL events.
What to bring
Hand sanitiser and a face covering: whilst we are living with Covid-19, please bring your own to events to help keep everyone safe
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
Headtorches will be required for the tunnels.
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).