5 Nov 25 Burwardsley, Beeston and Peckforton Castles Leader: Marie, Length of walk: 11 miles, Driving Distance: 20 miles, Number walking: 16 miles
Park at The Candle Workshop car park, Barracks Lane, Higher Burwardsley, Tattenhall CH3 9PF
or What3Words https://what3words.com/audio.niece.signed
Click here to see a map of the route
Although the weather forecast had been rainy, the actual experience was mild and dry. Several spots of rain were noted but no avoiding action was necessary.
The car park at the abandoned Candle Workshops at Burwardsley was the starting point and the crossover point in a figure of eight walk around the Peckforton Hills.
The route first joined the Sandstone Trail to climb Bulkeley Hill and then descended to the plain before climbing to Rawhead, where the leader distributed apple cake to the grateful walkers. Minimising her food miles, the leader had obtained the apples from a farm near Burwardsley. After the coffee stop, the group moved to the trig point and observed absolutely nothing. Since the concrete post are no longer used for mapping the landscape, the surrounding trees have totally obscured the view from the site.
On the way down, the group passed Musket’s Hole – a cave with a rock-cut chimney, but no one was brave enough to climb into it.
Lunch was in the porch and grounds of Burwardsley church, before the walkers returned to the car park to leave behind their rucksacks and take on the second half of the figure of eight. This time the walk went anti-clockwise taking in the village of Peckforton, Peckforton Castle Hotel and the ruins of Beeston Castle before returning along the Sandstone Trail.
Since the Pheasant Inn is so close to the car park, some of the walkers had to visit it before returning to their cars.
19 Nov 25 Beeston to Bulkeley Leaders: Helen & Clive, Length of walk: 8.5 miles, Driving Distance: 20 miles, Number walking: 11
Click here to see a map of the route
The day was dry and sunny but cold with some fields sporting a light covering of what looked like snow.
Anyone who thought it would be a good idea to create a walk by reversing the one covered in the previous outing should be disappointed. The walkers noticed that they were retracing their steps on the previous walk from Burwardsley. Although the Candle Workshops and Bulkeley Hill were repeated, there were plenty of new paths that the previous walk did not cover.
At the coffee stop on the Sandstone Trail, Helen gave out Welsh cakes with an alternative of chocolate brownies for the fussy walkers who refuse to include dried fruit in cakes as part of their 5 a day. Both sorts were consumed with delight.
When the group reached the derelict Candle Workshops site for lunch, they discovered that Wirral Ramblers had got there first. Fortunately there was enough space on the low walls for everyone to sit down and enjoy lunch in the sunshine.
After lunch, the group passed the Pheasant pub without calling in and then followed footpaths in fields rather than take the Sandstone Trail through the woods across the Peckforton Hills.
