Bickerton Hill and Maiden Castle By richard
Waypoint 1. Grid reference SJ502530
The car park at the bottom of Bickerton Hill is the best place to start this walk. It's open during daylight hours and accessible via a bumpy single track lane so take this slowly and beware of oncoming traffic. Head through the gate and up the hill passing the information sign on the right. This also details other footpaths in the area should you wish to take alternative routes.
Waypoint 2. Grid reference SJ500533
When the footpath forks, take the right hand branch and after a short while you'll see a signpost. Turn left towards Larkton Hill and Whitchurch. From this point, the path is part of the Sandstone Trail.
Waypoint 3. Grid reference SJ499532
The path heads higher up some sandstone steps. Keep following the round yellow Sandstone Trail markers whenever the path branches off.
Waypoint 4. Grid reference SJ497530
From the top of the steps, there are good view of the Cheshire Plain and towards Liverpool and Wrexham.
Waypoint 5. Grid reference SJ496528
The area of Maiden Castle can be seen on the left and is distinguished by two semi circular ramparts covered by heather and bracken.
Waypoint 6. Grid reference SJ496528
There's an information sign at this point too which gives further details of the area and an illustration of how the area might have looked.
Waypoint 7. Grid reference SJ496528
There are three possible footpaths to take from this point. This walk continues by following the Sandstone Trail sign to the west down the narrower stone path.
Waypoint 8. Grid reference SJ495528
Then bear to the right down the hill where the path splits. At this point there are more sandstone steps which are less defined than the previous ones. This section could be slippery when wet so take care. The path continues into the trees.
Waypoint 9. Grid reference SJ494527
At the bottom of the hill there's a further signpost. Turn left down the hill.
Waypoint 10. Grid reference SJ494527
Pass through the gate and then follow the path to the right of the stone wall down the hill. At the bottom is a Sandstone Trail information sign and a signpost directing you to the left. The path then takes a sharp left and right which isn't particularly obvious, but then becomes a well defined path. Continue around the base of Larkton hill which will be on the left. To the right you'll see views over the countryside of Cheshire and Shropshire.
Waypoint 11. Grid reference SJ499521
The Sandstone Trail then breaks off across fields to the south.
Waypoint 12. Grid reference SJ499521
Do not however go through the gate as this walk takes the footpath straight on to continue to follow the base of the hill.
Waypoint 13. Grid reference SJ500522
When you see the path split, take the right hand branch following the stone wall around to the right. You'll come to a gate leaving the trees and on to a short lane leading to a country road.
Waypoint 14. Grid reference SJ501523
Turn left and follow the road. Be careful of traffic as parts of it can be narrow, although there is a grass verge for most of it.
Waypoint 15. Grid reference SJ503528
After a short while you'll come across the pond near the car park.
Waypoint 16. Grid reference SJ503528
Walk up the sandy track that you drove along earlier and it will lead back to the car park.
(This could take a few minutes)
