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Start
Point: Hartford Church and Red Lion Public House
Distance: 7.5 miles
Paths:
Grass field and woodland paths with some quiet roads.
Waymarks:
The path is generally well marked with footpath signs.
Observations: Toilets are available at the start of the walk.
Map:
Ordnance Survey Explorer 267
This interesting walk follows one bank of
the River Weaver before going through the grounds of Vale Royal Abbey.
It then crosses the Cheshire countryside before rejoining the river at
the Winsford Salt Mine and returning to the village along the opposite
bank.
   
●
Starting from the centre of the village walk down School Lane towards
the bypass.
● At the
traffic lights cross directly over the bypass using the pedestrian
crossing and go up some steps to signposted path.
● Cross the
field to a kissing gate and then follow the path downwards to the left
to reach another.
● Join the
lane and turn right to follow the path of the river. You will pass under
the railway viaduct and can notice on the right a tunnel under the
embankment that was built to allow the movement of cattle (the tunnel
and the viaduct are Listed Buildings).
● Follow the
lane straight on, going through a pinch gate, until you reach another
gate into the grounds of Vale Royal. Abbey.
● Enter the
grounds and then walk along the road, passing the Abbey on your left.
● Once past
the Abbey you will come to a row of new houses, opposite number 21 leave
the road and follow the track branching off to your left that used to be
the old driveway to the Abbey.
● Look out
for a signposted footpath on your left, going over a stile and crossing
a large field.
● At the far
side of the field, near a wood, do not go through the wood but take a
path angling slightly away from it across the field to its right. The
path crosses the field to meet the road next to a house.
● Cross the
road here and go up the road opposite towards Bark House Farm.
● Turn right
after the house and join a track.
● Follow the
track, looking out for a signposted path on the left with a stile next
to a field gate (There was a large dead log here but it may get moved at
some point so don’t rely on it!)
●
Cross the stile and then follow the field boundary on
your left (ignore the gate on your left).
● Cross a
bridge and stile and walk past a garage along another track.
● Turn right
along the track and follow it until you reach a road and a row of
houses. You will be able to see the winding house of the Salt Mine as
you approach it.
● At the main
Winsford road turn left, crossing the road and walking past the Salt
Mine.
● After the
end of the mine’s lorry park look for steps on the right leading down to
the River Weaver.
● Cross the
river here and turn left on the far side to follow the path alongside
the river—there are picnic benches here so it’s a convenient place for a
break.
● Follow the
river path past Vale Royal Locks and up to the Blue Bridge on the
bypass.
● Climb up to
the road and turn left to return to the end of School Lane and retrace
your footsteps back to the start of the walk.
Winsford Salt Mine
Winsford Rock Salt Mine was opened in 1844 and is the oldest operating
mine in the UK. It is located 150 metres (over 500ft) below the Cheshire
Plain and its naturally protective atmosphere stays at a constant 14C
(56F) all year round with a humidity band of 60% - 70%. The Mine
produces over a million tonnes of Rock Salt a year and this is primarily
used for highway de-icing. The ‘Room and Pillar’ method of mining has
formed a huge network of underground tunnels or roadways with an average
height of 8 metres and a width of 20 metres. There are currently over
135 miles of tunnels but this grows daily. Mining is carried out using a
Joy Continuous Miner –one of the largest single Drum Head Mining
Machines operating anywhere in the World. In 1732 salt accounted for 79%
of the cargo carried on the river Weaver.
Vale Royal Locks
As you approach the locks you can see the old course of the River Weaver
diverging to the left over a weir. It was separated from the man-made
navigable part of the river (Vale Royal Cut) when, between the 1730s and
the end of the century, the river was straightened and locks built in
order to allow the passage of larger commercial barges. The size of
craft that could be accommodated can be judged by looking at the dual
lock system that was built as you re-cross the river. At each level
change there are a pair of locks—one larger and one smaller. In 1885 over 250
vessels were using the Weaver Navigation, carrying mainly salt and coal, with
over 150 trips being made per day.
Vale Royal Abbey
Founded in 1278 by King Edward I, the Cistercian Abbey took 53 years to
build and was opened in 1330. The king laid the foundation stone on 13th
August 1277 after promising to build the largest abbey in England for
the Cistercian monks of Hereford after he survived a storm at sea
returning from the Holy Land. The original Abbey was almost destroyed by
a fierce storm in 1360 but was extensively rebuilt by the Black Prince
and remained in use until 1539. It was largely demolished following the
Reformation. At it’s height it was larger than Westminster Abbey.
Following the Dissolution the site was acquired by the royal
commissioner, Sir Thomas Holcroft, who ‘plucked down’ the great church.
Afterwards he built a house which incorporated some of the monastic
buildings. Evidence suggests that the plan focused around the conversion
of the south and west ranges. Holcroft’s house, although much altered
since the sixteenth century, can still be seen at Vale Royal today. It
has recently been converted to provide a clubhouse and other facilities
for a golf course. There are no visible remains of the church, although
a monument known as the ‘Nun’s Grave’ marks the spot where the High
Altar is thought to have been.
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