The Baker Way - Walk or Run from Chester to Delamere Forest

Named after Jack Baker who used to be the Footpath Officer for Cheshire Council, the Baker way is a stunning route that cuts through the Cheshire Countryside from Chester passing Christleton, Waverton, the Roman Bridges at Hockenhull Platts, Tarvin, Ashton Hayes, Mouldsworth and Brines Brow before reaching Delamere Forest. It’s a great route and would make a lovely day walk in either direction. I chose to start at Delamere and run through the forest and catch the train to Chester and then run back. 

Note at the time of filming the path the Baker way follows through the forest was shut for logging so I took an alternative route for the very beginning / end of the route through the forest. 

The Route

Starting from Barnsbridge Car Park, I headed out of the back of the car park and left up the main track turning left again passing the Gruffalo and over the rail bridge near the visitors centre. It’s left for the station but I had time to spare so I turned right and then left into the visitors centre for refreshment. Note if you want to start / end at the station, the main visitors centre car park (pay and display) is your best bet. Head through the car park and down the road to the station. Trains run about once an hour during the day. 

I took the train to Chester and then headed into town and up onto the walls ready to start near the Roman Amphitheatre. I started here 

I retraced my steps back down the wall passing Newgate, the Eastgate Clock and the Cathedral before heading down the ramp and right to Frodsham street where I turned left over the canal and cross the main road by the roundabout at St Oswalds Way. I then headed down Brook Street and right at the roundabout into Station road down to Chester Train Station. 

From here we turn right down City road until we reach the canal. Take the path that runs down the canal and follow it until you reach the Cheshire Cat Pub, just past this is bridge 120 at Christleton where we exit and turn left onto Rowton Bridge Road. 

We then turn immediately right into Skip’s Lane, follow this to the end and take the path to the left of the house. The path crosses a field and then heads down the other side of the canal for a spell before turning left over the fields to Brown Heath Road at Waverton. Cross the road and go straight on down the drive to a house, just past the house take the path on the left which heads over the fields, just keep going straight on until you reach Plough lane where we turn right. 

At the bend go straight on into Platts Lane and follow it straight on until it becomes a footpath at the Roman Bridges at Hockenhull Platts. Note these bridges aren’t actually Roman, we are on the main route from Chester to London as used by people since Roman times. The bridges which people paid a toll to cross allowed people to cross the wetlands and the River Gowy were originally wooden (fragments have been found) these bridges are more modern, it is a lovely peaceful spot though and probably my favourite bit of the route.

Cross the bridges and continue down the track until you come out at a bend on a wide gravel track, turn left and head up the bank until you come out at the A51. Cross the road and go straight on coming out at Hockenhull Lane in Tarvin. Turn right and follow the road  to the end then turn right onto High Street. We are roughly half way in now so you might want to stop for refreshments at the George and Dragon. 

Just past the pub turn left down the hill which comes out at the main A54 Chester Road. Cross the road and then head down Sandy Lane which follows the course of the Old Roman Road. At the end of the lane go straight on onto the footpath, you will eventually cross a field and beyond is a track going left / right in a hedgerow, we turn left and follow the path, you cross a field and a small bridge where we turn right which brings us out on the drive behind Peel Hall. 

Follow the road straight on then around to the right and then take the path on the right which brings you to the rear of Peel Hall. Turn left through the yard and then turn right and follow the track which brings you to the main drive for Peel Hall. Head down the drive to Gongar Lane. Take the path straight on which cuts across the fields coming out between Ashton and Mouldsworth. 

Turn left and then immediately right into Grange road. Head up the hill to the end of the road then head straight on onto Old lane. Take the path on the left which brings us out at Brine’s Brow. Cross the road into Brines Brow, immediately after the barrier the path turns left down the hill and comes out on Delamere Road (down locally as the switchback road). Turn right and follow the road to the forest. Head under the railway bridge and pass Fox Howl Outward Bounds Centre. 

If you are able to follow the Baker Way marked track it is the second path on the right after Fox Howl, I couldn’t so I followed the road past the new Forest Holidays entrance and then took the minor track after about 300m on the right which stays close to the road and comes out on the main Barnsbridge track directly opposite the car park.