Brereton and Swettenham to Holmes Chapel - Along the Dane Valley Way

Today we have another ‘localish’ route, I’ve taken the short hop from Sandbach in Cheshire to Brereton parking on the road near the Bears Head Pub. Our route today takes us through the Brereton Hall Estate to Brereton Country Park and on to the Dane Valley Way path that heads through Swettenham past the Swettenham Arms pub and over the fields coming out at the edge of Twemlow Green. We then head up the road past the viaduct to Saltersford Corner in Holmes Chapel and then back via Manor lane and Marsh Lane before picking up the path back through the Brereton Estate again. For those of you concerned about the road section, I’d suggest finishing the route in Holmes Chapel and then jumping on the bus back to the starting point, the 319 Sandbach – Goostrey bus runs fairly regularly during the day. Once the path from Saltersford Corner reopens, then I would suggest going back that way instead 

The Route

Starting from Brereton Green, go under the arch into the Brereton Hall Estate and follow the road past Brereton Hall after St Oswald’s church the path turns right and comes out on Bagmere Lane opposite Brereton Heath Nature Reserve. Turn left and follow the road a short distance to the Holmes Chapel Road, cross the road and take the track straight on (Davenport Park Lane) we are now following a section of the Dane Valley Way. The path Drops down and crosses the river Dane and then into Swettenham. At the Church turn left past the Swettenham Arms pub then onto the path that cuts through their beer garden down to a  track where we turn right and then immediately left up to Swettenham Brook. Take the path on the left half way up the hill up to Ashtree farm and turn left up to Brook Farm and then take the path on the left which follows the ridge, it was a bit overgrown with bracken so be careful if you’re running. Turn left at the gate and then turn left again down the hill, there is a stile on the right but its all over grown so head past the copse then turn right and over the stile at Kermincham Hall, go straight on over the field and through the wood, then turn left and left at the next gate and head diagonally to your right across the field. This heads through another small wood after which you turn left and then left again into a field that takes you out to the road near the Twemlow Viaduct. Turn left and up the road to Saltersford Corner in Holmes Chapel.

Saltersford Corner Path

This path is currently closed  once it reopens I would suggest returning this way, follow the track to the end and onto the path which comes out at Swettenham, then retrace your steps back.

As the path is shut I took a road route back to the Brereton Hall Estate, if the road bit worries you, I’d suggest finishing your route at Holmes Chapel and jumping on the 319 bus back to Brereton.

After Saltersford Corner I turned left into Manor Lane and then left into Marsh Lane which I followed to Sandlow Green Farm near Mill Lane and then took the path on the right which comes out on the Brereton Hall Estate where we turn right and retrace our steps back to the starting point. Alternatively shortly after turning onto Marsh Lane you could turn right onto Mill lane and then take the next left (also called Mill Lane) which comes out at Sandlow Green Farm.