Exploring Great Barrow, Plemstall, Mickle Trafford & Guilden Sutton

We’re not too far from Chester today out in the countryside to the east of Chester at the beautiful village of Great Barrow. I parked on the road next to the White Horse Inn which looks like a great place for a drink after your walk or run.

The parish of Barrow comprises Great Barrow, Little Barrow, Broomhill and Stamford Bridge with the name deriving from the old English bearu meaning grove or small wood. There’s a lovely old Sandstone church St Bartholomew’s which dates to the 1600’s though there has been a church on the site since the 12th century. The river Gowy snakes through the area and we’ll be crossing it a couple of times today as we head out to Plemstall and Mickle Trafford heading back via Guilden Sutton.

At Plemstall which stands on slightly higher ground and is known as the ‘isle of Chester’ we pass St. Peters church which is believed to stand on the site of Plegmunds Hermitage. Plegmund had a reputation as a scholar and came to the attention of King Alfred the Great who made him Archbishop of Canterbury in AD890.

The Route

Starting from the White Horse, head down Main Street towards the village hall then take the path right and right again passing the church. At Church lane go straight on up to Barrow lane and turn right then immediately left into Ferma lane. Take the first turn on the right and follow the track. At the house take the path left and go straight on over the fields to the river Gowy. The path turns left here crossing the river and up to the railway at Plemstall. Cross with care and follow the track to St Peters Church. Now follow Plemstall Lane to the end in Mickle Trafford. Cross Warrington road and turn left then right into ‘The Street’ turning right at the next junction and continuing on the street. Take the path left that cuts through Hoole Law Tennis Club to School lane and turn left. Follow this back to Warrington road then go straight on (Station lane) and follow it to Guilden Sutton where we take the Tilefields path left, follow the path straight on over the fields then right to the Oxen Bridge. Turn left crossing the bridge and follow the path over the fields back to Ferma lane, continue straight on and at the end of the road go straight on back onto Main Street.