Frodsham Circular (Sandstone Trail Walk #1)

Walk leaders :  Cliff B & Colin P

Grading of walk :  Moderate

Walk details :  This 6.5 mile walk begins in Frodsham town centre on Main Street, at the small obelisk which marks the beginning of the Sandstone Trail. We make the steady climb to the memorial on Frodsham Hill, which overlooks the estuary of the River Mersey and provides great views of the two cathedrals at Liverpool (weather permitting). The walk continues by winding through woodland until eventually emerging onto grassy pastures. At that point there is a short stretch of quiet country road which leads us to more pastureland and farm tracks. These tracks bring us back into Frodsham where the walk ends. Walkers are then faced with the decision of going for a drink at the Bears Paw public house, where the walk began, going for refreshments at one of the many cafes in Frodsham or returning home.

Risk assessment :  A risk assessment was carried out 02/04/2025.  A summary of identified risks is below:

At the top of the escarpment the paths, although reasonably wide, fall off to one side and care must be taken to avoid falling. The paths are criss-crossed with tree roots and sandstone rubble. These present trip hazards which should be borne in mind. There is a short length of road walking. The roads are reasonably quiet… but you know what some drivers are like when it comes to speeding! Walkers should therefore walk on the right side of the road facing on-coming traffic and preferably in single file. Walking boots are recommended for this walk.

Start time and meeting point :  Meet at the small obelisk on Main Street outside the Bears Paw public house. The walk will start at 11:30 am. The postcode of the Bears Paw is WA6 7AF.

Directions to the start :   Take the M56 motorway westbound. Come off the M56 at junction 12, signposted Frodsham and Runcorn. Take A557 into Frodsham and search for somewhere to park.

Parking:  The best option is to park on Main Street, which is where the walk starts. It’s free on Sundays. The other options are here.

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Public transport :  There is a train service from Manchester Piccadilly to Frodsham which leaves Manchester at 9:48 and arrives at 10:31. Or you can take the 10:52 which arrives at 11:39. If you are planning to take the later train you would have to let the walk leaders know so that we can wait for you. The return train are 49 minutes past the hour. Please check the train tables yourself if you are planning to use the train.

Contact number on the day :     If you need to cancel your place on this walk then please use this number to send a message to the walk leader.

Booking : Book your walk here

Changes and cancellation :  Very occasionally, due to severe weather or another serious event, a walk may be cancelled. In these instances, a note will be added to the website at least TWO HOURS before the start time. So, do check the website before you set out, and if in doubt use the walk leader’s mobile contact number. Every effort will be made to contact you should a walk be cancelled.