Long Way by Barrow

From Chester Wiki

This walk took up a couple of hours on a blustery Saturday morning in November. I've made it circular but in reality I walked to the start by The Piper and then continued back into Hoole via the Mickle Trafford Railway and Newton Hollows.

The "Longster Trail" starts at Pipers Ash by an electricity substation and does not look much at the onset. Head through the village along Hare Lane and turn into Bellevue Lane. This will take you over the bypass and on to Guilden Sutton. The path leaves the road at the corner by "The Brambles" and is poorly signed at this point. Indeed, at first this looks like some cut-through, but the depression on the left widens and deepens and may be the remains of a hollow-way like Newton Hollows - maybe people have been coming this way for centuries. Just as the path becomes interesting (steep and twisty) you come to the Bird in Hand pub and the path becomes Church Lane.

Stop at the pub if you must, but then back-track and head up the steps to Cinders Lane. Turn left and follow the lane to the end of Wicker Lane (if you fancy a short-cut here, head down Station Lane and pick up the other track-way). Otherwise, cross Wicker Lane and start down one of the best bits of the walk. This is a good path with views into the distance where you should be able to pick out Peckforton Castle and Beeston Castle. The peculiar concentric "moat" structure visible on the map to the east of the path here is the Milton Brook fishing lake) and does not appear on the most recent OS maps.

Eventually you'll get to Barrow and the rather stunning Greyfield House (now a rather pleasant retirement home). Head into Barrow and turn right at the crossroads (note the Norman donation sign) to visit the churchyard with its impressive masonry and the path leading round to the village hall and then the White Horse (Barrow) Inn. Apparently, Barrow has a formidable vicar.

Then head back almost as far as Greyfield, but take the road just before the house which becomes a track heading towards Little Barrow and the Foxcote.

Continue from the Foxcote past Barrow Station (disused and in a rather tatty state) and onwards to the turn off for Barrow Nurseries - Wildmoor Lane. If you fancy a pint then you'll have to head on to Barrow Brook and cut across to the Nags Head at Bridge Trafford because there are no pubs on the rest of the route back to Chester. Head down Wildmore Lane and you will see the path towards Plemstall just before an impassable bridge. Cut across the fields to Plemstall and there you will find an old church (St Peters) and the somewhat disappointing St Plegmund's Well.

More can be found about the well here.

The next bit of the walk is a bit dull and if anyone has any ideas how to avoid Mickle Trafford please add them. Otherwise, grit your teeth, head down the lane past the caravan site and the oil pipeline pump then turn off just before the battery farming place. Cut across the field and take the muddy tunnel under the railway to Stile End. Trudge through the housing estate until you reach Station Lane and plod on to the end of the ancient track-way that leads off to the right.

Finally, the track-way is a pleasant off road walk back to Guilden Sutton. At the end, turn right and head down the road towards the disused railway. This will take you back to the vicinity of Hoole Hall roundabout from where it is a short walk to The Piper.