Walking the Chester “sponsored walk” route.

Its a beautiful day and I decide to go on a really long walk (by that I mean a long local walk, which, in relative terms is pretty short compared to say a hill walk).

Each year in Chester, there is a sponsored walk (I have taken part 3 times). Being here in Chester, where everything is done with a bit of style, participants are greeted on the route with Bacon Butty’s and Gyn and tonic throughout the walk.

Its a great trail, that leads through 2 of my favourite places here in Chester, The earls eye in the meadows, and the Westminster park.  It can be done both ways around, but I decide to walk to Westminster park first. I don’t walk up the main drive, but instead, take a trail off to the left and wander through the Forrest for nearly an hour.

While there, I see some young lads with Shovels. They have already constructed a mountain bike track, further up the trail, but now they are building an even more ambitious one. Its nice to see young people doing something practical and instead of complaining, actually solving a problem themselves.

I normally like to be on my own in the woods, but stop to chat to them for a moment. I continue to the top of the park, walk down an A road, and then pick up the riverside walk, back towards the Meadows.

All sorts of things have been implemented to stop it flooding, but its still frequently submerged. Since the water there is pure and uncontaminated, there is loads of animal and plant life  (some of it unique in the country).

I see a couple of people eating picnics along the bank of the river and some cows grazing as they have done for centuries before (not these particular cows though, they would be dead of old age !).

Wander back, all the way along to the hand bridge. Cross over, and walk down the waterfront toward the band stand. Ive been walking now for 3 and a half hours (Ive been taking it easy). Technically, the rout hasn’t cost any money, but its a fantastic day and I treat myself to an ice lolly, courtesy of BT.