A beautiful historic walk through Warrington to enjoy in lockdown

The weather looks a little mixed but this interesting routes combines countryside with some little nuggest of history.

Distance: 6½ miles

Starting point: The Thorn Inn, Appleton Thorn.

FROM the car park at The Thorn Inn, cross the road to read the plaque about the history of the thorn tree. Now take the lane to the left of the war memorial.

Turn left onto a footpath signposted to Blackcap Road. At its end, cross the road and walk along the left-hand edge of a field.

Turn right into the next road and eventually left onto a path.

Walk along the left-hand edge of several fields before entering a bigger, open field. Walk to the post ahead and turn left.

At the road, turn right and walk to Stretton church.

Just after the church, turn right onto a footpath which follows the route of the Roman King Street. (The name ‘Stretton’ means ‘the place on the Roman road’).

Go straight ahead at the parish map to eventually cross one road and turn left onto another by a Janus-headed column.

Cross the A49 into Hillside Road.

Where the road becomes a drive, cross a stile on the left onto a metalled path. Cross another and walk along the left-hand edge of a field.

Continue ahead up a lane, passing Dennow Cottage on your right and a small green on your left. The obelisk is said to mark the burial place of Oliver Cromwell’s horse.

Go uphill to pass through a sandstone cutting.

At the junction the road becomes busier and there is no pavement, so go into Hillcliffe chapel yard and walk along its right-hand edge.

Continue along the road until you have crossed the canal bridge. Turn left and left again onto the towpath.

The steps on the right after the bridge were once used by passengers on canal packet boats. Do not leave the towpath by the permissive path, but carry on until you have passed over a road. Here take the steep, narrow path on your left. Turn left, go under the canal, cross the brook on your right and walk past the houses.

Cross the road and walk up Dale Lane to take a footpath signposted to Dingle Lane which passes to the left of a school playing field.

Carry on ahead, following the Lumb Brook all the way.

On reaching a lane, turn left, cross a bridge and turn right into the wood called Ford’s Rough. At the end of the woodland path, turn right and left into Green Lane, which will take you back to Appleton Thorn.

More Pocket Pub Walks in Cheshire by author David Pill, published by Countryside Books, are available from local bookshops and countrysidebooks.co.uk