MG-Whyxall Marina, Avoiding Hanmar

by Neil Tanner
1 year ago
Near Chester, GB

33 views

This route is aimed at SW winds, although it is tough after Threapwood, at 16 miles, once up the hill to the main road. It is a tough 3 mile strech into the direct headwind, as the lanes become very exposed exposed, on this anti-clockwise route. However, all things considered this is the best version of this route.
The route takes in my favourite lanes south for the 1st 15 miles and then makes a deliberate swerve around the region of Hanmar, as the lanes around there are awful. So this route avoids them and to be fair are good.
Mildly hilly ( all short sharp stuff, but some fab quiet scenic lanes ) There is one short steep lane around 20 miles- ish.

As usual the long strech is to the cafe at 28 miles and a nice 23 miles back via Harthill, but essentially avoiding Whichurch. There isn’t a cafe option for the return leg, unless the route was diverted through Malpas & Tilston ( Lost Barn, but unlikely to catch them open anyway and Fire station cafe at Malpas, would be to early from he Marina)
However, if Whixall Marina was closed or other issue then the alternative would be Alderford lake cafe another 4 miles further on, to the east,Therefore need to divert from route, through Hollinwood to Tilstone and then up B5476 ( cracking cafe for food choice and open 7 days a week. This in fact would make a nice change to the route for a cafe and only add 1 mile to the total.
Then have to ride through Whichurch and out via Marbury and up to rejoin the route. This would only add 1 mile to the route and is not that bad.
This route not only passes aroud Whixall nature reserve it also crosses the boarders of Wales, Cheshire, Shropshire and I think Staffordshire in the space of only 10 miles.
There is only 1 half mile strech on A road, through Penley, which is not a fast busy A road.
There isn’t really any way of making this route flatter, without going through Hanmar, which is a no no, as the lanes are dreadfull.

This route is a cracker- the most complete small lane route, literally door to door. Every lane is good, I reckon I only saw 2 or 3 actual potholes. A couple of lanes have some rough patches, but nothing you can’t navigate. In the grand scheme, considering how narrow most of these lanes are, there exceptionally.
If I was feeling good then this route could be extended slightly, on a few different lanes without adding to much & coming back up slightly, depending on how much extra I added.