Chekel one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Chekel here.

Mostly a good route, but it has errors that have corrected on CheKel 3, which I recommend.

First, the route at Common Farm has been rerouted and now goes around the barns rather than through the farmyard.

Secondly, the route jumps across the canal at Christleton where there is no crossing; there is a bridge a little further on.

Has the beginnings of a good route, but the errors are unforgivable!.

I attempted to walk this from Kelsall (knowing I’d fail it). This route expects you to swim across the canal to the towpath near Brown Heath Farm. Instead, you have to stay on the north of the canal and follow a footpath into Christleton to cross the bridge. This may be apparent, to some extent, if you are walking towards Chester, but if you are heading away from Chester, you would naturally walk an extra half a mile beyond the bridge to be faced with a dilemma. I cannot recommend this route. I have corrected this with CheKel Three.

Kelsall is easily reached by the 84 bus from Chester to Northwich which runs hourly during the day. Chester is well served by buses and mainline trains. Kelsall, Tarvin and Chester have plenty of pubs, shops and cafes.

You need to leave Kelsall trough the playpark next to the Morris Dancer pub and keep to the right, this is tarmaced for the first 0.5km then field mostly field footpaths to Oscroft. These are reasonably well signposted and well maintained but muddy in wet weather, although there were a lot of cattle in the fields. This didn't prove to be a problem but may worry some walkers.

There is about 0.5km road walking through Oscroft and then a short stretch of field walking to Tarvin, all well signposted. More road walking for about 1km through Tarvin. Care needs to be taken crossing the very busy A51 on leaving Tarvin. From here the route follows The Baker Way and is clearly marked. The next section is very pleasant going through Hockenhull Platts Nature Reserve and over four ancient ornamental bridges (these are tricky in the wet with slippery cobbles but easily passable with care.

There is then about 1km road walking along a quiet country lasne, then left onto field footpaths. These were extremely muddy as it was a wet early autumn day when i walked it. Then there was a long strech through high sweetcorn fields but paths were left clear. The Shropshire Union Canal is then reached but you have to follow footpaths for 0.5km to Christleton to cross the canal bridge to get onto the towpath. It is then a straight walk to the centre of Chester on the towpath passing the Cheshire Cat pub by the canal at Christleton.

Overall this is a good, reasonably accurate and safe route all on the level. It is gives a varied and scenic route through the Cheshire countryside and includes as lovely stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal. There is some road walking but nearly all quiet lanes in villages and country. The field paths are reasonable well marked but can be really hard walking when wet, hence 4 instead of 5 stars, that and crossing the A51, although these are minor problems. The final section along the towpath is tarmaced, flat and fully accessible. I would certainly walk the path again and would recommend to others as a good alternative if slightly longer to Chekel 2. There are about 10 stiles mostly well maintained and about 15 gates (mostly kissing gates) also fairly well maintained but some are very narrow and tricky with a large backpack.

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