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EXPLORING MARBURY - WIRSWALL & THE LLANGOLLEN CANAL

What a beautiful place, today we are in the village of Marbury, not to be mistaken for Marbury near Northwich, the village is located between Nantwich and Whitchurch in Cheshire East and a prettier place you won’t find. I parked on the road, there is space for a few cars to pull up on the verge a little way down Wrenbury Road from The Swan Pub, or you could park at the pub if you are visiting and it looks lovely and I’ve had several positive comments about the food.

There are two meres, Big Mere and Little Mere which are kettle holes, depressions formed by the retreating glacier at the end of the last ice age which then fill with water. Our route takes us out past Big Mere with views across to St Michael’s church which dates to the 15th Century. While little is known about the area pre 11th Century, skull fragments have been found at Big Mere dating to about 750AD.

From here we head up to Wirswall which gives us a fantastic view over to Bickerton Hill and Peckftorton, make sure you stop to take in the view. Then we pick up a short section of the Bishop Bennet Way and follow it down to the Llangollen canal at Willeymoor Locks and follow back to Marbury, the total route is about 5.5 miles.

The Route

Head down Wrenbury Road to the Swan then turn left on Hollins Lane. Take the path right beside Big Mere and then straight on through the boggy field. Follow the path up the hill to Wirswall Road and turn left. Follow the lane until you reach the Bishop Bennet Way Fingerpost where we turn right. Follow the track down the hill eventually joining Bradley Green Lane. At the end of the lane at the A49. Cross and take the path opposite (to your right) to Willeymoor Locks. Turn right on the tow path and follow the Llangollen canal to Steer Bridge where we exit and turn right following Marbury Road back to the Swan.