Bigkid three

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Bigkid here.

Yet again a fast and busy road crossing dictates a Slow Way route. The iffy section of road, Dean’s Lane, is by-passed and elsewhere there are pavements. Could be cattle in the one open field at the head of Bath Park wood. Services half way even accommodation but hardly required on this fairly short route which is a walk only, not recommended for wheels.

I walked from Kidsgrove station. Follow the orange line for the start of this walk, that line being the ever present colour of the canal here. Passing the disused portal of Brindley’s tunnel our route climbs up the access road. It starts briefly up Boathorse Road, as the name records this was the way the boat horse went while men legged the boat through he tunnel. Take the footpath climbing through woodland.

We are back on roads from the Bowls Club then take an unsigned path passing the Cricket Club, all very sporty around here. This path was a bit muddy and drops down to join the hard surfaced cycle route, make the best of it, it doesn’t last. The definitive path (green or red dash line on OS) does not appear to be available through Bath Park woodland. The start benefits from a small loop. Once on the path there is some old waymarks and a path is apparent on the ground. I looked to the SE of the small pond where the OS shows the path and decided it was far too narrow so stayed on the NW side as plotted. Later a small stream comes down a valley from the NW, a sleeper bridge has a waymark and here we double back, don’t go up this valley. The path still has some evidence on the ground and leaving the woodland there are some dilapidated steps up to a stile onto the road.

There is accommodation available here plus what was a Little Chef is now Greggs and Subway. Our path winds around the Travelodge to meet the road which allows a safe crossing of the busy dual carriageway. A pavement offers more protection as we climb to Red Street. The Crown here was closed but looked to be still trading. We pass Dean’s Lane turning right along a footpath signed road that becomes a path alongside a school. It drops down passing the end of a cul-de-sac to enter a wide grassy strip. The recorded path continues to the road but we can bear left over the grass to follow the narrow lane safely segregated by a strip of trees and bushes.

We could take to the lane for the final few yards but this route avoids that until we have a pavement along the road into Bignall. It would be improved with some cutting back and where we cross sides at the road to Megacre it’s not the safest pavement design, done by a roads person, I guess. The meeting point on the edge of the settlement has a bus shelter, without seat but there is one close by. An Inn opposite and shops just a short distance along the road.

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