Wednesday walk - Eccleston to Aldford (Cheshire River Walk)

When life is weighing me down, there is nothing I like more than getting out of the city and going on a country walk.

So, yesterday I called up my girlfriend and asked her if she fancied a jaunt out to the millionaires' playground that is the Cheshire countryside 😂

I had researched this walk online prior to the visit, but had never been before. It turned out much as I imagined; with quaint country villages, small woodlands that hummed with the chatter of birds, verdant fields and an idyllic river.

All this only 50 minutes drive from my home city of Liverpool 🦆🦚🦢

_{Google Maps Directions for Walk}

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Eccleston to Aldford - A River Paradise

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Running from Eccleston Ferry to Aldford village, this 2.5 mile walk is flat and makes a decent jaunt - there and back - at just under 5 miles.

As we set out from Eccleston Ferry the weather was a little overcast, but the dreaded British rain wasn't in evidence, so I thanked my lucky stars.

On sunny days many kayakers can be seen setting off from here, and the free carpark is also a great resource for walkers who want to take the riverside track either north or south.

As we wandered down the hedge lined track towards the south, bees buzzed in the hawthorn and the distant honks of geese could be heard riding the breeze. The hedges finally gave way to the right as we wandered on and ancient Cheshire houses could be glimpsed through the greenery.

This walk provides plenty of opportunity for nature photography, and as the sun finally cracked the clouds I managed to capture the proliferation of bluebells that grew along the river bank among the wild garlic.

The perfume of flowers mingled with the earthy smell of the river and the slightly sweet aroma of wild garlic, awakening nostalgic memories of balmy summer days from my childhood spent by another river near Lancaster called the River Lune.

_{A glimpse into the lower part of Eaton Hall grounds pictured through the fence.}

As we passed the lower grounds of Eaton Hall the path passed into a portion of woodland that cuts off a loop in the river, before finally arriving at Aldford Iron Bridge where the walk leaves the river.

_{The River Dee photographed from Aldford Iron Bridge.}

At this point you're basically in the middle of private land owned by Eaton Hall which has to be kept open to the public as part of the public footpath. Fortunately the footpath route is clearly marked to help keep walkers from trespassing onto the estate.

After walking down a short road a signpost directs you across a field, where the dandelions were sprouting, speckling the green grass with their golden bobbing heads.

Upon exiting the field, there is a church on the left, which a friendly local told us was open and worth popping in to take photographs of the stain-glass windows and have a tinkle on the piano... which I did 🎹🤣

The church was empty, thankfully, given my rendition of silent night was very rusty, and we sat for a time in the peace that always wells up from places of worship.

Feeling the pull of the pub, we left the church and wandered through the village of Aldford.

Aldford is like a portal into a previous time. Red brick homes from the 1800's are dotted about seemingly haphazardly and there are old red British telephone boxes with working payphones in them.

As we approached the road with the The Grosvenor Arms pub on it, an old man who was working his vegetable patch waved at us.

Finally the pub hove into view...

We had arrived at our halfway point to a well deserved pint (for my girlfriend), and a coffee (for me, the designated driver😂).

The rest of the walk comprised of following the same path we'd just walked to return to the car.

The walk back to the Ferry was just as beautiful, as the chatter of water on the riverbank and the hoot of wood pigeons serenaded us back to the car.

Thanks for joining me on my Wednesday walk 🙂🌿

All media used are either my photographs, or designed and created by me.

#wednesdaywalk is a community/initiative started by @tattoodjay to encourage people to get out for healthy walks and document their adventures. Check out Jay's profile for fantastic photography blogs.

If you have enjoyed this post you can check out my other work on my homepage @raj808.

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