Baker Way
Encyclopedia
The Baker Way is a footpath running from Chester railway station
to Delamere railway station
within the English
county of Cheshire
. The total length of the trail is 13 miles (20.9 km).
along the Shropshire Union Canal
until bridge 120 at Christleton, where it then heads for Brown Heath before passing straight through Tarvin
, along Hockenhull Lane and Tarvin High Street. It then crosses the A54 road
and loops around the back of Ashton, just missing Mouldsworth
. The path then crosses Church Road, Ashton by the nearby St John the Evangelist's Church and then proceeds up Grange Road, which leads directly to the edge of Delamere Forest
. The trail then passes by Fox Howl, the Forest's education centre, and crosses the Mid-Cheshire Line
three times, the third time joining up with the Sandstone Trail
for several hundred metres. The route then meanders through the forest to its end point at Delamere railway station
. The route is shown on Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps 266 and 267.
Because the footpath starts and ends at railway stations, many walkers choose to park at one station, walk along the footpath to the opposite station and simply use the train to travel back again. There are very few waymarks along the footpath; for instance, there are no waymarks for the first few miles between Chester railway station and Christleton
, making it very easy to lose the trail without careful use of a map.
and Peckforton Castle
, which can be seen from the fields surrounding Christleton and Brown Heath, and Ashton's church spire, which is a good landmark for navigation.
Chester railway station
Chester railway station is a railway station in Newtown in the city of Chester, England. It is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although Merseyrail, Northern Rail and Virgin Trains also run services from the station. It is situated to the north-east of the city centre...
to Delamere railway station
Delamere railway station
Delamere railway station opened on 22 June 1870. It serves both the village of Delamere and Delamere Forest in Cheshire, England. The station is 15 km east of Chester on the Mid-Cheshire Line....
within the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. The total length of the trail is 13 miles (20.9 km).
The route
The Baker Way leaves ChesterChester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
along the Shropshire Union Canal
Shropshire Union Canal
The Shropshire Union Canal is a navigable canal in England; the Llangollen and Montgomery canals are the modern names of branches of the Shropshire Union system and lie partially in Wales....
until bridge 120 at Christleton, where it then heads for Brown Heath before passing straight through Tarvin
Tarvin
Tarvin is a village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It had a population of 2,693 people at the 2001 UK census, and the ward covers about .-Location:...
, along Hockenhull Lane and Tarvin High Street. It then crosses the A54 road
A54 road
The A54 road is a road linking Chester in Cheshire, England with Buxton in Derbyshire. The road follows the route:*Chester*Winsford*Middlewich*Holmes Chapel*Congleton*Buxton...
and loops around the back of Ashton, just missing Mouldsworth
Mouldsworth
Mouldsworth is a village and civil parish on the outskirts of Chester in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is located about 8 miles north east of Chester City Centre on the B5393 road. The nearest villages are Manley to the north...
. The path then crosses Church Road, Ashton by the nearby St John the Evangelist's Church and then proceeds up Grange Road, which leads directly to the edge of Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest or Delamere Forest Park is a wood in the Cheshire West and Chester area of Cheshire, England, near the town of Frodsham. It includes of mixed deciduous and evergreen woodland, centred at around , making it the largest area of woodland in Cheshire...
. The trail then passes by Fox Howl, the Forest's education centre, and crosses the Mid-Cheshire Line
Mid-Cheshire Line
The Mid-Cheshire Line is a railway line in the north-west of England, between Chester and Manchester.- History :The Mid Cheshire line has its origins in railways promoted by three separate railway companies in the 19th century. The Cheshire Midland Railway was opened to passengers between...
three times, the third time joining up with the Sandstone Trail
Sandstone Trail
The Sandstone Trail is a long-distance walkers' path, following sandstone ridges running north–south from Frodsham in central Cheshire to Whitchurch just over the Shropshire border. The path was created in 1974 and extended in the 1990s...
for several hundred metres. The route then meanders through the forest to its end point at Delamere railway station
Delamere railway station
Delamere railway station opened on 22 June 1870. It serves both the village of Delamere and Delamere Forest in Cheshire, England. The station is 15 km east of Chester on the Mid-Cheshire Line....
. The route is shown on Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps 266 and 267.
Because the footpath starts and ends at railway stations, many walkers choose to park at one station, walk along the footpath to the opposite station and simply use the train to travel back again. There are very few waymarks along the footpath; for instance, there are no waymarks for the first few miles between Chester railway station and Christleton
Christleton
Christleton is a small village and civil parish on the outskirts of Chester in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The 2001 Census recorded a population for the entire civil parish of 2,112....
, making it very easy to lose the trail without careful use of a map.
Sights
Various sights are viewable along the Baker Way, such as Beeston CastleBeeston Castle
Beeston Castle is a former Royal castle in Beeston, Cheshire, England , perched on a rocky sandstone crag above the Cheshire Plain. It was built in the 1220s by Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, , on his return from the Crusades...
and Peckforton Castle
Peckforton Castle
Peckforton Castle is a country house built in the style of a medieval castle. It stands in woodland at the north end of Peckforton Hills northwest of the village of Peckforton, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building...
, which can be seen from the fields surrounding Christleton and Brown Heath, and Ashton's church spire, which is a good landmark for navigation.
External links
- Discovercheshire website - local walking routes
- Chester City Council Baker Way leaflet (outside sheet)
- Chester City Council Baker Way leaflet (inside sheet)
- Cheshire County Council: Baker Way (PDF)
- The approximate mid-point of the Baker Way is at 53°12′36"N 2°45′19"W