11 members of the rambling group set off today from Forest Hills Hotel at Frodsham to walk along part of the Sandstone Trail and the hidden crags of Frodsham Hill, before going onto the High Rocks of Helsby. The route from the hotel should have taken us across the golf course but during the recce, having searched for some time, the leaders realised the golf course no longer existed but was now a forested area!
Passing from the road we walked into Dunsdale Hollow and then down Woodhouse Hill. It is believed that at one time there was a hill fort in the area, possibly dating back to the Iron Age, although nothing of the fort remains today. The area is now owned by the Woodland Trust, managed wholly by volunteers. Continuing through Frodsham woods signs of the change in season were visible with some trees starting to shed their leaves already, and an abundance of berries on the Rowan trees, thought to be a sign of a hard winter to come. Having emerged from the woods and walking along some pretty country lanes we negotiated a series of kissing gates, past the end of Harmers Wood, and then climbed up to the top of Helsby Hill where we had our lunch stop. The day was clear and dry so we had good views across the Mersey estuary and the Manchester Ship Canal and could spot planes landing and taking off from Liverpool airport ( named today the best airport in the UK!).Ignoring the chemical plants and the M56 motorway, we looked into the distance and could identify the Clwydian Hills spotting Moel Famau and the peak of Snowdon in the far distance. Suitably refreshed we took a downward path over some tricky sandstone slabs and walked through some pretty oak woods where we could see evidence of the sandstone crags towering above us, one of which had been shattered by the roots of a tree which had collapsed bringing the sandstone down with it. Following an up and down hill path we came to the foot of Jacobs Ladder, the sting in the tail after an 8 mile ramble, as we had to climb up 71 steps to reach the meadow at the top near to our destination! Many of the original sandstone steps have now been replaced with a metal staircase, although this made it no easier to climb! After considerable huffing and puffing, and pausing to get our breath back, rather than take to route back to the hotel we traversed the meadows to pay a visit to the Frodsham War Memorial, a fitting tribute to the men of Frodsham who died in the first and second world wars. The sandstone obelisk stands tall and proud, and is surrounded by a peaceful garden. From here we walked the short distance back to the hotel where we enjoyed a drink in the bar before going our separate ways and travelling back to Maghull. Thanks to Shirley and Dave for leading the walk today and to Nigel who did the recce with todays leaders.