Route: Chester Loop
Following a discussion with @ancewen about how the marshes are worth a visit in South Wirral I set of to find a route. I wanted to include some of the Millennium Greenway as well as I hadn’t cycled on that before.
While searching I came across a great route from a book called Gravel Biking with Coffee and Cake around Cheshire. This loop hit all the points I wanted so, last Saturday morning, I started the ride in Chester with my wife.
Approximately 3/4 of the route is traffic-free. The other 1/4 is on some minor roads with the occasional busier road. Care needs to be taken— especially with anyone younger— as a lot of the route is next to water— either canals or the River Dee.
Start / Finish
Little Roodee Carpark: There is plenty of parking at Little Roodie Car park. There is a charge for parking. On a Saturday / Sunday this is around £6. There is also a cafe in the Carpark for a starting (or finishing!) coffee.
The loop starts at the bottom of the car park.
Route
From Little Roodee Carpark we headed left along the River Dee. The route winds its way alongside Chester Castle before heading up along roads, down the canal and through a few housing estates until it reaches its first byway. None of the roads you cycle along are too busy and there is a good cycle-network to keep you off the roads and help you cross the busier ones.
The first byway you come to was muddy from all the rain but still passable. Mudguards are recommended as my wife ended up covered head to toe in mud from all the spray here! At the end of the byway there is a short road section before you join the Millennium Greenway.
The Millennium Greenway runs along an old railway line from Mickle Trafford through the historic city of Chester to Connah's Quay.
You leave the Greenway after a few miles and follow a few more minor roads through another estate before heading down through the centre of the zoo along a cycle-path! If you’re lucky you’ll see a few animals - we spotted an elephant! Not something you see on a normal cycle ride in Cheshire.
The cycle path brings you out alongside the Shropshire Union canal which you then follow for a few miles before more roads heading towards Capenhurst.
Here you follow quiet lanes before joining the Wirral Way just outside of Hooton. If you fancy doubling the length of this ride you can complete the Wirral Loop at this point creating a nice figure of 8.
We stopped at Hadlow Station and had a cake and drink. The rain had stopped and the sun was shining. I can highly recommend the Rocky Road.
You follow the Wirral Way now until you get Neston. Again this is another point in the route that mudguards are advised. Helen didn’t have any and looked like she had caught some contagious disease when she arrived in Neston!
From Neston more quiet roads take you to my favourite part of the route - the NC568 - which, over the next 10 / 15 miles will take you all the way back to Chester.
It starts alongside the Dee Estuary, passing The Harp pub (a great stop if the weather is nice), through the shooting range (follow the diversions if the shooting range in open). This beautiful part of the route passes you into Wales.
You continue following the NC568 though an industrial estate and a Toyota factory before joining the River Dee for the final 7 miles back.
Whilst this is a scenic section it did feel a little tedious as it is straight as train track for about 5 miles!
The route continues alongside the Dee until Chester Racecourse which it skirts before bringing you straight back into Little Roodee car park. 
An enjoyable ride, made better by the brightening weather. Whilst this is mainly asphalt it’s quiet and a very varied route.
Let me know your thoughts on the route and your personal highlights.
Stats
- Total Distance: 33.8miles
- Gravel Rating: 2 - mix of gravel and roads / cycle paths
- Weather Rating: 4 - Any weather but could be muddy in places
- Refreshments: 3 - a few options at different points around route
- Child Friendly: 4 - suitable for older children confident on bikes. May include some minor roads.
- Escape Routes: 3 - some points you can be picked up. Limited public transport.
- Personal highlights on route: Millennium Greenway, Hadlow Station, NC568, The Harp Inn
- GPX:https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/415338389
