Boaters who own dogs have a reason to go walkies! Those of us without a canine companion sometimes have to find a reason to go for a walk! In my case it is because I need the exercise if we are moored up for a few days! Moored at Audlem there are plenty of “reasons” to go walking.

 

The village is worth exploring, as it has some interesting buildings and the countryside around is typical of Cheshire. Conveniently, there is a leaflet with walks around Audlem, which we picked up in Audlem Mill. The village website also has information and walks and is worth a virtual walk! Clickety-click.

 

A walk down the towpath and past the bottom lock and into the fields via a recognised towpath on a sunny day like yesterday is wonderful!

 

Below Lock 13

 

A little way along the towpath is Moss Hall aqueduct, named after the nearby Moss Hall. This crosses the infant River Weaver, which winds its way to Hankelow Mill.

 

River Weaver

 

It is difficult to equate this little river with the wide river we travelled on last April. We loved it on the River Weaver away from the usual narrowboat haunts! The towpath is now called The Weaver Way and this is part of the route from Frodsham (a walk from the northern River Weaver) to Audlem.

 

I wanted to find Hankelow Mill and a footpath route is marked from Bennetts Bridge (80). We also had the walks leaflet to check we were following the correct route across a couple of fields to the lane down to the Mill.

 

Hankelow Mill, on this site for over 300 years

 

The Mill was closed in 1972 and sold for private use. It has been lovingly restored and the area around it is obviously loved too. The wheel has been restored to full working order. The rear was once extended to house a steam engine.

 

The Mill stands in 4 acres. The garden has topiary and a summer house, the mill race has been incorporated into the garden and everything is well looked after.

 

                                       Hankelow Mill and the Mill race

 

After the mill we had to climb a steep hill and follow some obscure footpaths across more fields to make our way back towards Audlem! There were quite a few stiles to climb and a number of “kissing” gates too.

 

In the last field we saw this

 

We were much amused but realised that it was left as a marker for the footpath which went straight through the middle of the field. The gate at the end led onto the road into Audlem and we made our way back.

 

But then we found a diversion onto another footpath …......

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