OS Route Map → | ![]() |
GPX Route file → |
Date: 16 May 2023
Start: Frodsham station / Finish: Stockton Heath.
Maps: Explorer 267: Northwich & Delamere Forest + 276: Bolton Wigan & Warrington.
Day 1 | The Delamere Way | 21 miles (34km) |
A few photos from a single day walk of the Delamere Way (DW) waymarked trail that runs south from Frodsham, east through the Delamere Forest and northwards through Cheshire countryside to Stockton Heath on the southern outskirts of Warrington.
Inspired by a dry but mediocre forecast with sunshine at a premium, this trail near to home was a fitting choice, a good distance with little ascent save for a short sharp one to Beacon Hill near the start.
Blakemere Moss seems an odd name for the large expanse of water in Delamere Forest until we understand its history as a reclaimed wetland area that was drained and allowed to reflood, as outlined in the reference. The swampy western end, including Dolittle Moss with its own information board, betrays its origins and becomes open water farther east. It now provides a rich habitat, as is apparent from the loud calls of the birds, though the water edge can be approached only at a few places on this southern side.
The route is generally well waymarked with the DW arrow except, surprisingly, in the Delamere Forest itself where you need to keep a careful eye on the map amid the numerous tracks and woodland paths.