Section 1 of 4, South Cheshire Market Towns Trail
Astbury Mere Country Park to Hassall Green
11.4 miles (18.3 km). About 4 hours, moderate.
Start: SJ 714 663. Finish: SJ 776 582. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
About 140 m of climbing and 103 m of descent; highest point 76 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Astbury Mere Country Park.
- Bus stops
- Middlewich, Holmes Chapel Road / Shell Garage, 430 m from the start. Directions SJ 710 665Middlewich, Centurion Way / Roundabout, 810 m from the start. Directions SJ 708 668
- Car parks
- visitors car park, 380 m from the start. Directions SJ 712 660usual pick up point, 390 m from the start. Directions SJ 712 660Car park, 810 m from the start. Directions SJ 707 659
Getting back
The section finishes at Hassall Green. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Bus stops
- Hassall Green, Alsager Road / St Philip's Church, 140 m from the finish. Directions SJ 777 582Hassall Green, Alsager Road / Romping Donkey, 370 m from the finish. Directions SJ 779 584
Planning the South Cheshire Market Towns Trail
- Planning the whole trail: hcpartnership.org.uk.
What to expect
Underfoot: paved or flagged 29%, earth, rock and mud 28%, grass 13%, gravel and tracks 6%; the rest (23%) isn't recorded.
About 24% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 2 stiles, 2 kissing gates, 7 gates, 8 flights of steps.
No steep climbs: no kilometre gains more than about 21 m.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pubs
- The Cheshire Cheese, Middlewich: 0.8 miles in. Real ale, seats outside.The Kings Lock, Middlewich: 0.9 miles in. Real ale, seats outside.Military Arms, Sandbach: 7.6 miles in. Seats outside, step-free.Welles & Cross, Sandbach: 7.7 miles in.The Beer Emporium, Sandbach: 7.7 miles in. Real ale.The Swan & Chequers, Sandbach: 7.7 miles in.The Wheatsheaf, Sandbach: 7.7 miles in.The Lion, Sandbach: 7.8 miles in.The Market Tavern, Sandbach: 7.8 miles in.Black Bear Lodge, Sandbach: 7.8 miles in.And 15 more within a quarter of a mile.
- Cafés
- The House, Sandbach: 7.7 miles in. Seats outside.Cafe Glaze, Sandbach: 7.7 miles in.Sally's Cafe, Sandbach: 7.7 miles in.The Black Cat Coffee House, Sandbach: 7.7 miles in.Little Legs, Sandbach: 7.7 miles in.Costa, Sandbach: 7.7 miles in.Chatwins, Sandbach: 7.7 miles in.The Cafe on the Square, Sandbach: 7.8 miles in.Jenny's Tea Shop, Sandbach: 7.9 miles in. Seats outside.Malkins Bank: 10.6 miles in.And 2 more within a quarter of a mile.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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