General access information about the project area

There is a network of public footpaths, notably including the Sandstone Trail, which provides accessibility to the heart of the Sandstone Ridge. Within the wider Sandstone Ridge area there are 473 kms of public rights of way, and an estimated 1.4 million walking trips are made in the area each year.

The Sandstone Ridge area has a significant number of horses (c.720), stables, racehorse training facilities and other equine trades (an estimated 1500 people have links to equines either working professionally or casually). Bridleways in the area are nevertheless poor and fragmented and offer little amenity value to anyone seeking to exercise a horse or indeed enjoy the surroundings of the local countryside.

Each hillfort management zone area maintains a good network of public rights of way. In total 60.9km of footpaths and 4.3 km of bridleways provide access in various conditions to and from the hillfort areas.

Recreation Routes

There are also a number of recreation routes within the Ridge area, primarily the Sandstone Trail which encompasses all but 2 of the hillforts. Other routes take in attractions such as Delamere Forest or link to the east of the county and meet the Gritstone Trail. The Sandstone Trail is the only linear route that publicises short circular walks through a published book. It is hoped the Habitat and Hillfort Scheme circular walk leaflets will complement this book.

  • Sandstone Trail – 34 mile trail from Frodsham to Whitchurch
  • Bishop Bennett Way – A 34 mile route for riders following bridleways, byways and minor roads thorough the countryside of southwest Cheshire.
  • Eddisbury Way 16 mile route from Frodsham, following rights of way and quiet roads and joining the Sandstone Trail at Burwardsley.
  • Longster Trail - 10 mile route from Helsby Hill via Barrow to Chester
  • Delamere Way - 21 mile route following rights of way and quiet roads, from Frodsham to Warrington via Delamere Forest Park
  • North Cheshire Way - 70 mile walkers' route across the north of the county, from Willaston in the west to Lyme Park in the east. It provides a link between the Wirral Way, Sandstone Trail and Gritstone Trail.
  • Baker Way - 13 mile route linking Chester with Delamere Forest Park

Train and road

Train stations are potentially important gateways into the northern part of the Scheme area, and information about the hillforts at Helsby, Woodhouse, Kelsborrow and Eddisbury could be provided at the stations.
With 4 large settlements and a population of 40,000 people within the Sandstone Ridge area, the transport network is key to getting people around, not only local residents but also visitors to the area. The area is well served by road links although local issues of signage to the hillforts (where appropriate) can make improvements at the very local level.

Rights of Way

The relationship between the rights of way network and hillforts and areas of habitat enhancement and creation is of particular significance. This can provide opportunities for visitors as well as local residents to experience and understand the heritage resources and provides opportunities to promote the Habitat and Hillforts brand.

Footpaths

Footpaths within the scheme area are of varying quality and ease of use. Cheshire West and Chester has a designated team of Rights of Way Officers who have the task of maintaining the network free of obstructions and easy to use. Their small budget per year is primarily used for statutory functions including signage and small surfacing jobs where appropriate. The LPS has the potential to invest complementary funds for access improvements, above and beyond statutory duties in each of the hillfort areas.

Bridleways

Bridleway access has been a long standing issue on the Ridge, primarily within the southern area. This was identified in background papers for the Cheshire Rights of Way Improvement Plan, showing a significant gap around Beeston, Peckforton and Bickerton. Feedback through the Development Phase also identified a need for ‘more accessible off-road riding’.

The project has worked closely with the Peckforton Estate and has facilitated a new permissive bridleway through Peckforton Woods.

Access condition

Recommendations from the access condition report mainly outline the need for an accessibility statement for the Scheme, and a link between this and accessibility with the public rights of way and/or open access has been made.

General observations from the disability access appraisal highlight the difficulties which arise due to the nature of the Scheme area. The scheduled status of the hillforts may put limitations on work that would be desired to improve accessibility to the hilltops for people with disabilities. Few of the site paths can be considered fully accessible to all potential users, as would be expected due to the nature of the terrain.

It has been recommended through the report that an overall policy on boundary features and their associated gates and stiles be produced and specific paths have a continuity of footpath accessibility. The issue of boundary features is critical to the physical access management of the sites, so that an individual will know whether they are able to complete any specific route.

Each hillfort has been assessed for its accessibility qualities: