Parking in the small car park on Beacon hill we set off on our 5.7659 mile walk. The sandstone ridge bounds the western edge of the Cheshire Plain. At Frodsham and Helsby it breaks out into real crags. (It does at Beeston as well but our walk didn't go that far this time). Both hills form the classic escarpment; the sandstone strata slope gently down to the south east, while the craggy fronts face the River Mersey.
You can see where we walked at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1929813.
An interesting walk including crossing a golf course (officially, as the path is older than the course, walkers have priority but we didn't take it for granted), passing Woodhouse Hill (there was once a hill fort there; iron age) now owned and managed by the woodland trust, down (and later up) Jacob's Ladder with well worn footholds carved in the rock, and through the outskirts of Helsby before assending Helsby Hill.
Views of the River Mersey, both Liverpool Cathedrals, were glimpsed through the trees and almost at the end of the walk when we reached Frodsham's War Memorial on top of Frodsham Hill.
This picture was added using Mbedr, which if it works allows me to add flickr images while retaining any annotated regions present on the original. If you want to try it out then go to http://www.elsewhere.org/mbedr/.
Just before reclimbing Jacob's Ladder I spotted a Tawney Owl flying through the woods and out into a tree in an adjacent field. Sadly not time to take a photograph.
We took the advice of the guide and went to the Helter Skelter, on Church Street for refreshments. Apparently named after the centrepiece of the fairground which used to stand on the hilltop; the outside and public bar were far from inviting but we made our way up to the restaurant and found that the food and beer to be excellent; the choice of cask ales made me wish that I wasn't driving (I did enjoy a pint of Shropshire Gold. Don't be put off by appearances!
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