Another Audlem walk – and you could come across Mancunians

Last month, Audlem Online published a selection of walks in the Audlem area. Little did we know that the Manchester Evening News, the largest selling regional newspaper in the country, was also publishing an Audlem walk. It was spotted by David Parry and we are happy to add it to our list of local walks. The directions should be used in conjunction with the Audlem Parish Paths map or OS Explorer 257, available from Williams' newsagents or Audlem Post Office. The walk is about 5 miles for the full circuit and 4 for the shorter version along Bagley Lane.

"From the car park turn right into the centre of Audlem where St James' Parish Church, built in 1278, stands above the ancient Buttercross. Here there is a Bear Baiting Stone, while the lamp in the middle of the square commemorates Dr Bellyse: "In appreciation of a life spent in relleving the sufferings of his

fellow creatures".

Walk down Vicarage Lane past the Old Priest House, now a coffee shop, to Audlem Green and the 1655 Grammar School. Crossing the little hump-backed bridge over Audlem Brook keep straight on over the wooden stile. A fenced path leads beside the hedge then you continue across the field to a stile in the opposite corner. Joining a tarmac lane follow this past Sandy Lane Farm and, when the tarmac turns away to Fields Farm, continue down the track. The waymarked path crosses Wood Orchard Lane and continues over the fields of Kinsey Heath. When the hedge bends away, go straight on heading for a stile in the field corner and round the next field into Field House Wildlife Area.

Emerging onto a quiet lane, opposite Kinseyheath Farm, turn right and walk past the attractive houses. Just beyond the junction with Wood Orchard Lane a signpost points left across the fields.

The next bit is infrequently walked and becomes rough underfoot with some awkward stiles, but can be avoided by shortcutting along Bagley Lane to the canal.

If you are pressing on regardless, the path leads by the hedge to an encouraging wooden stile and footbridge, then parallels the hedge to another stile. Continue along the field boundary to a wooden stile by a metal gate which takes you unceremoniously into Shropshire.

Bidding farewell to Cheshire, continue by the hedge and cross a bit of fence by a pond. Then, with no sign whatsoever of any path, make your way diagonally across the field to a gate in the bottom left corner by Adderley Pool Bridge. Then, climbing couple of gates, you descend to the canal.

Now the walking is easy and you follow the grassy towpath beside the Shropshire Union Canal back into Cheshire. Beyond a wooded curve a lock-keeper's cottage stands beside the first of the Audlem locks. The flight drops 93ft in one and a quarter miles.

Continuing along the towpath the Short Walk joins at Coxbank, by Lock 3. There are lots more locks, then, after passing under the A529, you go by the Bridge Inn, which once stabled the canal horses. Kingbur Corn Mill is now a craft shop (now closed) and the Shroppie Fly pub was formerly a warehouse.

Just before the final lock, Lock 15, double back up the canal embankment and take the path which leads back across the field. Then joining a tarmac lane turn right and stroll back into Audlem."

This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.