Paws & Pints

Whether you and your faithful friend fancy a short stroll or a serious trek, there are plenty of hikes to be had in Cheshire, each with the reward of a cosy pub. Here’s five to try…

1. Check in to The Pheasant Inn at Higher Burwardsley, a country pub with rooms for those who want to linger longer. Check out one of its three recommended walks from the front door, which range from two to five miles in length. They explore one of the most scenic spots on the Sandstone Ridge, including the medieval ruins of Beeston Castle, which sits high on a crag guarding the plain below. You’ll soon discover why the Ridge has been shortlisted for consideration as a future Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For route notes, go to www.thepheasantinn.co.uk.

2. With the arrival of the railway line from Manchester to Chester in the mid-1800s, pretty Willington became a popular jaunt for city folk seeking fresh country air. In fact, the savvy locals created their own marketing campaign, dubbing the place “Little Switzerland” for its steep-sided valley – look out for the nickname on a signpost. Follow one of the routes suggested by The Boot Inn, where dogs are welcome on the heated terrace. Delamere Forest, with its trails for different walking abilities, is close by, too. For route notes, go to www.thebootinnwillington.com and www.forestryengland.uk/delamere-forest.

3. If a short stroll is all you need to justify a pint, step out along the towpath of Britain’s oldest canal, the Bridgewater. This easy circuit to and from the 17th-century pub Little Manor, at Thelwall, is a reminder of how nature thrives in the lee of our urban conurbations. First trace the route of a disused railway that once carried workers between Warrington and Stockport. Then hop over a flight of steps to join the towpath of James Brindley’s revolutionary waterway, which opened in 1761 to carry coal from the mines at Worsley to Manchester. Refuel and refresh back at the pub. For route notes, go to www.brunningandprice.co.uk/littlemanor.

4. You’re spoilt for choice, The Roebuck Inn or The Bull’s Head? Both of these fine pubs sit next to each other along a country lane in Mobberley and will extend an equally warm and friendly welcome to you and your pooch. But before you take a seat, there are country lanes to meander, fields to tramp, and St Wilfrid’s Church to see – the young George Mallory is said to have scaled its tower, novel practice for his future career as a mountaineer. For route notes, go to https://roebuckinnmobberley.co.uk and https://thebullsheadpub.co.uk.

5. Bollington, in the western foothills of the Peak District, has serious hiking credentials. This is Cheshire’s first “Walkers Are Welcome Town” and it hosts an annual walking festival in September. There are plenty of rambles to pick; one favourite is the ascent to the summit of Kerridge Hill for a close-up of White Nancy. The stone dome, a Cheshire landmark, was built in 1817 by the family of local author Elizabeth Gaskell, of Cranford fame, to celebrate the British victory at Waterloo. Reward your efforts by warming up in front of the open fire at The Poachers Inn. For route notes, go to www.thepoachers.org and https://happyvalley.org.uk.