Bunbury & Beeston - 8 Mile Walk / Run from ‘Great Paxford’ (ITV’s Home Fires) to Beeston Castle

Picture Postcard Cheshire today, starting from the beautiful Cheshire village of Bunbury which you might know better as ‘Great Paxford’ in ITV’s Home Fires. We run across the fields to Higher Bunbury where we have the Dysart Arms and the 14th Century Church (St. Boniface’s) and then on across the fields to Beeston and past Beeston Castle. It’s about 2.5 miles to Beeston so you could do a shorter there and back and visit the castle perhaps? I then carry on down the lane to the Shady Oak Pub at Tiverton (note you could cut the corner and knock about a mile off). We then head back along the Shropshire Union Canal to Bunbury Staircase Locks and back up the lane into Bunbury past Bunbury Mill. Absolutely stunning, well worth a visit, it was lovely and quiet particularly along the canal, a slower pace of life from a bygone era.

The Route

From the free car park by the Bowling Green, head across to Wyche Lane then straight on across the field and down the path to Wyche Lane. Turn left up to St. Boniface Church at Higher Bunbury then turn left into Vicarage Lane. Take the path on you left and follow it, at a crossroads in the path turn left, the path goes through some wood, we then go around the right hand edge of the next field and out to School Lane at Bunbury Heath where we turn right. Cross the A49 with care and go straight on down Moss lane. Take the path on the right (not marked!) and head across the fields coming out on Moss Lane near Beeston. Turn right then left onto Stone House Lane. For the most direct route turn right at the cottage onto Tattenhall Lane, or do what I did continue straight then take the next path on the right which joins the Sandstone Trail Path where we turn right. Head across the field  to Tattenhall Lane then turn left and immediately right through the woods to Beeston Castle. Head past the castle and continue straight on down Chapel Lane. For a shorter route (combined with the other shortcut it knocks a mile off) take the Sandstone Trail Path right down to the canal, or do what I did continue straight on then right into Bates Mill Lane and follow it to the Shady Oak at Tiverton. Join the Shropshire Union Canal turning right and follow it to Bunbury Staircase Locks then turn right up Bunbury Road back to St Boniface Church then left on Wyche Road and right on Wyche Lane and then finally the path left back to the car park.