Welcome to the Sandstone Trail
Stride out along the Sandstone Trail, a 55km/34 mile trail
from Frodsham to Whitchurch, and sample some of the finest walking
in Cheshire. Follow the ridge of sandstone
that rises dramatically from the Cheshire plain and
enjoy this invigorating walk at any time of year.
If you’ve not walked the Sandstone Trail before you’re in for a
real treat. If it has been a while we are sure you will have
forgotten how stunning it is. You can download the newly redesigned
28 page Sandstone
Trail Walker's Guide (1.05 MB PDF File). For up-to-the-minute
news and information visit the Newsletter page.
Walking the Trail over two or three days gives a real
impression of scale of the borough and a sense of achievement
but please don’t rush it, take time to soak up the atmosphere and
savour the delights of rural Cheshire. View the
Accommodation
List (200 kb PDF file) to find places to stay.
Click here for a text-only
version of these links formatted for easy and economical
printing. These instructions should only be used in conjunction
with the appropriate Ordnance Survey maps (72.5 kb PDF file).
Walking the Trail
The Trail has been split into 6 sections in this guide
so you can combine two or three sections if you want
to walk a longer length. We would strongly recommend you wear
comfortable boots or walking shoes as some sections can be wet,
muddy or slippery at any time of year. Because the Trail follows
the sandstone ridge there are few facilities on the actual route
and most pubs and shops are a short distance from the Trail. Please
check opening times in advance and always take some food and plenty
to drink with you. Don’t forget your sunscreen, especially if you
are walking north to south.
Following Waymarks
The Trail is well waymarked with the distinctive yellow disc
with an ‘S’ in the footprint. Waymarks indicate the way to go as
you stand directly in front of them. Because the Trail is well
walked the path is usually obvious but some of the linking right of
way may not be so clear on the ground. Look out for stiles in the
hedges and lines in the grass where others have walked.
Newsletter and News Flashes for the Trail
Please follow this link to the News Page.
Information along the way
There are a number of notice boards along the route which have
local information and a copy of the latest Sandstone Trail
newsletter. This will also have details of guided walks or special
events happening on the Trail and if there are any temporary
diversions.
Out in the Country
Please keep to paths across farmland and leave all gates as you
find them.
Dogs should be kept under close control so they are not a nuisance
to other walkers, farm animals or wildlife. Please clear up after
your dog and take the bag away with you, or deposit it in a waste
bin where available.
Access information
Surfaces along the Trail vary depending on the nature of the
terrain but they may be rough, uneven or slippery. Some sections
can be wet and muddy at any time of year. Parts of the Trail are
quite hilly, particularly around Frodsham, the Peckforton Hills and
Larkton Hill and over the whole length of the Trail you will have
climbed a total of 1234 metres.
Stiles are gradually being replaced with kissing gates where
possible to make access easier. A full access audit was undertaken
in 2008 and details of this are available on line at Discover Cheshire.
Contact Information
To report a public rights of way issue on the Trail contact:
prow@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
If you think that the issue might be in Cheshire East, please phone
01606 271830.
For more general comments or enquiries about the Trail
contact: sandstonetrail@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
Please make sure to include your telephone number in any
communiction.
Maps
Although the Trail is well waymarked you are strongly advised to
use the Ordnance Survey Explorer maps with this leaflet. The
relevant 1:25000 maps are OS Explorer 267 Northwich and Delamere
Forest and OS Explorer 257 Crewe and Nantwich.
Further information
Habitats and Hillforts
The Habitats and Hillforts
Landscape Partnership Scheme operates along the sandstone ridge
and produces a varied and stimulating 'Training and Events
Proramme' that focuses on the six ironage hillforts which stand close to the
Trail.
Guide Books
For details of the full colour new book 'Walking Cheshire's
Sandstone Trail' by Tony Bowerman, visit
www.sandstonetrail.co.uk (an external and independent
site). This book gives route descriptions for walking the Trail in
both directions and includes Ordnance Survey mapping.
Another very popular book, 'Circular Walks along the Sandstone
Trail' by Carl Rogers is also available for purchase there.
Both books are also available in most Cheshire bookshops and
some other local outlets.