My Top 10 Favourite Runs of 2021 | Great Runs in Northwest England

As 2021 draws to a close and as I can’t run right now as I’ve sprained my ankle, today we have a roundup of my personal favourite runs of 2021. Its a subjective choice, some have a stunning view, others it was a perfect day; these are the runs that I look back on most fondly and meant the most to me.

Number 10 - Brookhouse Moss

Back in February while we were still in COVID lockdown I ran out to Brookhouse Moss near Brookhouse Green. Lockdown meant all my runs started from Sandbach and so it made me explore new paths. This one was new to me and I loved it. It was a perfect day, blue sky, freezing cold in the depths of winter. I ran out via Betchton and over the fields to Love lane and then up to Four Lane End at Smallwood and then over the fields to Brookhouse Moss. The Mosses of Cheshire are the wet ground left over from the last Ice age. I headed through the moss and then back via Arclid.

Number 9 - The Roaches at Dawn

Back at the end of August I got up super early and headed out to the Roaches in Staffordshire. Arriving before dawn I headed up the hill to watch the sunrise and the mist rising far and wide from the fields far below. Stunning view, I head down to Roach End and then back up the road (saw some deer) and then back across from the far side. If you’ve not visited it’s well worth it and while it is a climb up the hill, you actually start quite high up so it’s not too bad.

Number 8 - The Baker Way

Loved this one, filmed in August it was a hot summer day. The Baker Way is named after Jack Baker who used to be the Footpath officer for Cheshire County Council, it runs from Chester Train Station to Delamere Station in Delamere Forest. I parked up at Delamere and ran through to the station and caught the train to Chester and then walked up onto the walls. I then ran back along the walls to the station and down the canal and over the fields to Hockenhull Platts (The Roman Bridges) and on through Tarvin, passing Peel Hall and on to Mouldsworth, Brines Brow and finishing at the forest. I should have stopped at Tarvin for a drink and ended up quite dehydrated, but thats all part of the adventure I guess. The day is now etched into my memory.

Number 7 - Cawsand

Filmed on another beautiful hot blue sky day while on holiday in Cornwall. I headed down to run the coastal path from the pretty fishing village of Cawsand. Lovely place, I could happily retire there, I headed down the cost past Fort Picklescombe and on to Mount Edgecombe Country park for a stunning view across Plymouth then back past the old church at Maker before dropping back down into Cawsand and straight into the sea from the beach to cool off.

Number 6 - Great Budworth

Filmed not long after the end of the lockdown it was great to get out and run somewhere different and Great Budworth in Cheshire is beautiful. A picture postcard Cheshire village it has been used to film several things including the recent BBC dramatisation of War of the Worlds and Hinge and Bracket back in the 1970s/1980s. The pub at the time was still locked down but its a great spot to end your walk / run. I headed out across the fields to the Arley estate and then around to Pickmere lake. It was a beautiful day and a fantastic location, highly recommend a visit.

Number 5 - Kelsall

A really personal choice this I loved it. Returning to Kelsall where I grew up, I ran past my old house and down all the paths and lanes that I explored as a child it was very special to me. It’s a lovely spot for a walk for everyone and a trip down memory lane for anyone who used to live in the area in times gone by.

Number 4 - Mow Cop

Filmed in spring not that long after the end of lockdown I headed over to Rode Heath and ran from Poolside over the fields to Little Morton Hall and then up to Mow Cop via Hanging Wood and then back on a section of the Gritstone Trail. It was a beautiful blue sky day and as you reach the top at Mow Cop you are presented with an absolutely stunning view across both the Cheshire Plain and Staffordshire, if you’ve not been, put it on your list it’s stunning.

Number 3 - The Autumn Adventure

Filmed in November I embarked on a two day adventure running down the North Wales coast. Previously I had run from Prestatyn to Abergele so this time I ran from Abergele and along the coast past Pensarn, Llandullas, Colwyn Bay, Rhos on Sea, Penryhn Bay and over the Little Orme for a stunning view then through Llandudno and up the Great Orme for yet another stunning view. I spent the night in Llandudno and the next day ran on to Llanfairfechan via Conwy and Penmaenmawr. The whole thing was a stunning adventure and I’m looking forwards to going back to continue it in sections all the way around the coast to Aberdaron and on to Porthmadog and then inland over Snowdon.

Number 2 - Hilbre Island

What is it about running by the sea I love so much? I really don’t know but I do. Filmed in the summer I ran out from West Kirby to Hilbre Island. Running across the sand and the views from Hilbre are fantastic, I highly recommend it.

Number 1 - The Sandstone Trail

So back in the spring as lockdown ended and we could finally travel again I wanted to do something special to mark it and so I ran the Sandstone Trail. It’s 35 miles and cuts right through Cheshire from Frodsham in the North to Whitchurch in the south. The weather was perfect, the scenery was perfect, I loved it and it’s a day I will remember for the rest of my life.

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