My Cheshire Cycle Ride

The sun was shining, the sky was blue it was a beautiful weekend, so I decided to put work and household chores to one side for a couple of hours.  I dusted down my bike, got ready and headed out to explore some of the stunning Cheshire countryside that’s right on my doorstep.

I set off from my home and headed towards the rolling green fields around the village of Arley, probably best known for its Hall and Gardens, just one of the abundance of gardens across Cheshire that make up Cheshire’s Gardens of Distinction.

Cycling in the fresh air, with the sweet smell of freshly cut grass was simply stunning, and made me resolve to get out and about in Cheshire’s countryside more often; there’s just so much variation and beauty to experience and explore, I know I was barely scratching the surface.

My chosen route took me through Antrobus, Whitley and Grappenhall on the edge Warrington.  The peace and quiet, the sense of being amongst nature, I realised how lucky I am to live on the doorstep of some of the most beautiful scenery.  People often think about Warrington as being more industrial and busy, but there’s lots of lovely countryside too.

I passed lots of other cyclists doing the same, taking advantage of the great cycle routes that extend across the county from the Cheshire Cycleway which follows a 176 mile route through the mill village of Bollington and over the heights to Wildboarclough and Macclesfield Forest, to the Trent and Mersey Canal towpath running along the River Dane, and many more.

There were also lots of other friendly passers-by, including horses and their riders trundling along the quiet paths and ducks and their ducklings, which gave me the chance to stop and admire the spectacular views to allow them to get safely across the road to carry on with their journey.

The many varieties of birds as keeping me company as I continued my journey tweeting away in the summer breeze, tucking into the blossom from the blooming countryside, from blue tits to swallows, house martins and so many others I couldn’t name, I’ve bought a guide book!

In total I cycled just over 20 miles, and felt refreshed, exercised and inspired, I think that’s the impact the Cheshire countryside has on you, and I’m looking forward to exploring more.