07/12/14 - Running the Santas

Distance - 2.5 Miles on City Walls, 4 Miles along the River Dee
Geocaches - 3 on the Walls, 5 along the River
Walk Inspirations - Jarrold Short Walks and Walks into History, Cheshire


Two walks for the Price of One in this week's blog.  Family Mapp have met up in Chester for this year's pre-xmas weekend break.  Three head from the Midlands and one head from Wigan.  The one gets our only parking space in front of the cottage, leaving the three to negotiate parking rates with publicans and fuel resellers.

I have been to Chester several times and always thought I was missing out.  It must have been in my pre-adventuring days, as I never saw the walls.  I never saw the rows.  I saw the inside of a couple of pubs but never the sights.  This was a weekend to change this and explore properly what Chester has to offer.

And it was superb.

To get a view of the City, we walk the walls on the Saturday.  Well, we set off as a family but as soon as Ellie sees the steps leading to the City shops, she causes mutiny in the ranks and deserts, taking two others with her.

The walking couldn't be easy.  Thanks to our strategically placed rental cottage, we get our first view by crossing the Bridge at Handbridge.

Take us to the City

The Weir on the Dee

On the otherside of the bridge, we pick up the perfectly preserved walls and we head off in a clockwise direction, passing the castle and racecourse.  I loose the shoppers at the Northgate - meeting back up with them at the Albion Pub for lunch.

The Walls

Going solo means I can take my time getting a few caches and explore what Chester has to offer. This includes Roman Amphitheatres, Roman Gardens, the Cathedral and the Rows - unique multi levels shops.

Roman Gardens - My Favourite Part of Chester

The Cathedral

Having seen the sights, I rather fortuitously bump into the family at the shops.  Well fortuitously for them, as I have the lunch money.  Afternoon spent shopping, looking at the Xmas Trees in the Cathedral and listening to the other Albion turn around their season by drawing at Hull.

After a night investigating the pubs, we are woken on Sunday morning by the Cathedral bells heralding the annual Santa race.  Sonia and myself leave the kids behind to complete the second walk and investigate.

We see old Santas, young Santas and even Dog Santas.

A Selection of Santas

Today's walk is just as easy.  We pick up the River Dee at Handbridge and head inland at the Suspension Bridge to walk through the crescents, picking up the River again at the Meadows.

The Meadows - on the Way to a cache

A long stretch along the river and then we move inland at Heronbridge.

Chester City Limits

Into the Woods and we pick up Chester Approach, a long tree lined path that takes us back to the town.  A couple of caches to find on the way.  Nearly give up on the one by the gates, but perseverance paid off.

Across the road and back to the River Dee which leads us directly back to the street where our cottage is.

Back to our Cotttage

A lot crammed into a weekend, but I feel that with the walks, I have discovered the best of what Chester has to offer.  A unique and beautiful City.