Length miles 6.04miles
Maximum height 381.65 feet
Minimum Height 216.95 feet
Height ascended 255.91 feet
Height descended 346.75 feet
Turn right out of the station onto Station road there are Sustrans signs opposite the station entrance, we are now heading towards the town centre it is uphill from the Station. The road then levels, on the right you can see Joyce's Tower Clocks building, before going downhill, at this point there is a good view of St Alkmund's Church and over the town. The Sustrans sign now directs us right into Queens Road (street sign) the War Memorial is on the corner in a very nice little garden please pay your respects. I would strongly recommend that you divert here and have a look at the town proper. There are plenty of places to eat either sit in or take out.
Please read the 'Brief History and Guide', you will find it in the History menu at the top of the page. From this you should get a feel for the place and if you do not have much time I would suggest that you follow the History on the spot signs as shown on my map of the town.
From Queens Road turn left into Salisbury Road (no street signs), and then right into Talbot Street (street signs). I have put some temporary signs up in Talbot Street but not all the junctions are signed it is clear on the junction guide. Neither turn to the right nor the left but carry straight on out of town past a dreary builders yard and some other scruffy motor trader type places. What is of interest here is the old rail yards on the right, this will give you an idea as to how large the Railway Station used to be, at one time over a hundred people were employed here. We then pass over the old railway bridge under which the Whitchurch to Chester branch line used to pass. After the bridge you will pass by a large farm entrance. Be aware that this can be very muddy and slurry runs off the farm onto the road. The section after the farm entrance has recently been resurfaced and will spoil you.
The next railway bridge is over the road so pass under it and after this on the right you can see Blakemere the home of Sir John Talbot, more information in the Brief History.
Continue 2.61 miles to the next junction on the border between Shropshire and Cheshire number 86. This is actually Black Park Road but there are no street signs to show this on the ground. From Blakemere there is a gentle climb becoming steeper after which it levels out past a farm (380 feet) then steeply downhill and then a not so steep climb before descending again down a gentle slope past Blackpark Farm. After the end of this slope there is another steep climb a descent and then a shorter climb finally descending to the junction.
We are now on the Shropshire Cheshire Border. The second Mercian Statue is here I call this one 'Eowa' brother of Penda and co-ruler of Mercia with him. We are hoping to put in a picnic rest site here and move the statue from its rather awkward position dumped at the side of the road at the mercy of every slurry trailor and hedge cutter that goes by. On his shield 'Eowa' shows the distances to Chester as 27 miles and to Bewdley as 74 miles. Turn right here into Ossmere Lane (street sign) following the excellent Sustrans signs through Hollyhurst. You are now in Cheshire; you know what they say: "Cheshire born Cheshire bred thick in the arm and quite clever really!"
From the Shrospshire Cheshire border the road is level becoming an uphill slope; it is very rough there are many deep potholes, take care. The road then climbs past some farm entrances to the next junction. There is a nuisance dog at the farm on the left as you go uphill that may dash into the road barking watch out for this, as it can be a shock if you are not aware. Follow the Sustrans signs and turn right from Ossmere Lane into Hollyhurst Road (street signs). After an uphill slope the road levels and then descends look out for the monument on the right.
This is a very visible landmark in this area. You can go up to the monument on foot; it is perhaps safer to wheel your bike up there, as I am not sure how secure it would be if left at the roadside, please do not ride it on here.
As the road reaches the bottom of this hill there is another climb then it is virtually downhill to Marley Green. There is a junction on the left but there are now Sustrans signs follow these straight on. Be aware that some guides produced by Shropshire County Council erroneously show NCR45 going along this lane over a railway level crossing; it is not difficult to negotiate with a bike but it is not 45.
From Hollyhurst the road descends under the railway bridge to the junction with Wrenbury Road; turn right into Wrenbury Road from Hollyhurst Road (street signs), following the Sustrans signs. There are official signs here but I have supplemented those with some extra, as at one time this junction was prone to sign turners.
From the junction with Hollyhurst Road at Marley Green the road is virtually level to the junction here. I have signed this junction on the black and white sign post and on the street sign, follow these signs keeping left. The road is slightly downhill and then there is a slope uphill into Wrenbury. Access can be gained to Wrenbury Railway Station by turning right here; you can see this clearly by looking at the junction guide for this leg.
From Pinsley Green NCR 45 enters the village at the junction of New Road with Cholmondeley Road (pronounced Chumley Road) by St Margaret's Church (street signs), there are Sustrans signs but you need to look carefully as they are not easy to see. I have put some extra signs here to make it clearer. NCR45 is also joined by Cheshire Cycle Route 70 at this point, and Cheshire Cycle Route 74 from Crewe/Nantwich ends at this very junction.
St Margaret's is well worth a visit, built in the 15th century of sandstone from the nearby Bickerton Hills, where you will go if you continue on 45, it is a guide to parochial life of the present and past. St Margaret of Antioch was a popular figure in the middle ages and is the patron saint of expectant mothers. Make sure that you see the 'Dog Whipper's Pew', to find out about this remarkable Office and more facts about this church you can obtain a copy of a booklet produced by the Cheshire Countryside and Recreation Department in the church; ©Cheshire County Council 1988 ISBN 0 906759 43 9. Please make a donation to help preserve this wonderful building.
To find out more contact Mike Clarke at email mikeclarke@ncr45mercianway.co.uk
