Walk takes you past Spurstow Spa and Bath House

DETAILS
Start: The Nags Head Houghton CW6 9RN
Route Summary: A route across undulating Cheshire countryside taking in the high ground of Windmill Bank from where there are extensive views over the county. The path passes the site of Spurstow Spa and its Bath House.

1 Leave the Nags Head car park, Haughton Moss (the pub reopened this month) turn left then right across the road to the footpath sign to follow a green lane for 50m. Before the gate at the lane end take the stile on the left to follow the hedge on the right for 50m (do not follow the hedge around the right handed corner) and then cross over the field to keep the waymarked path to the right of the hedge.

2 Cross the next waymarked stile and cross the field keeping the hedge on your left until you cross the double stile and exit onto a lane.

3 Turn right (North) along the lane until you are opposite Pear Tree Farm (on your right) to take the footpath on the left, beginning between hedges then exiting to a field to cross it South to the corner of the wood to enter the wood 50m Left (East) of the wood corner. The path through the wood has the edge of the wood on your right to exit over a stile and turn right.

4 The wood is the site of Spurstow (saline) Spa. Head north eest through the gateway and keep the hedge on your right to follow the path which leads to the lane right of the half timbered Bath House farm, another reference to the Spa. Rather than turn right you may turn left along the side of the wood to the location of the Spa marked on, but sadly recent agricultural activity seems to have removed all traces. Turn around and back to [4]

5 Turn Left along the lane past the road junction with a packhorse bridge to take the footpath.

6 Left at Coxey Green Farm, heading down the track south.

7 At the cottage go through the gate on the left of the lane and cross the field to the hedge then South up the field to find the hole in the hedge.

8 Through the overhanging branches to emerge on open ground and then upward, forward and right toward the oak at the top of Windmill Bank. (C) There are benches which provide an excellent viewpoint over Cheshire and picnic spot. Head off SW, up hill through the gate behind the benches, possibly through crops, to a gate below the crest of the hill.

9 Turn right through the gateway and follow the hedge line downhill and North then, after crossing a stile in a wire fence , pick up a line of stiles through paddocks back to the lane. Turn left in the lane and then pick up the green track which leads to the right (North) of Spurstow Lower Hall Farm following the stream and mill race round the farm buildings to reach the lane and cross the stream. The lane runs North to a road junction where you take the footpath right.

10 The short path crosses a double bridge stile, cross the next field in a north east direction to a lane [11], which is crossed to gain another footpath running ahead North East to join another waymarked path running Left (North) to a lane. As this is one footpath running into another in the middle of the field, unless the farmer has shown clearly where the paths are, take the alternative route along the lane!

11 Turn right onto the lane then right again in a few meters at the road junction.

12 From [11] to [12] may be under crops and difficult to negotiate, particularly if there has been heavy rain. In this case don't cross the lane at [11] but turn left up it and at the T, turn right to arrive at [12].

13 Go 500m down the lane to another road junction.

14 Go ahead down Cappers Lane for 50m to take the footpath Left which follow the line of the ditch, passing a track bridge to reach a footbridge. Cross the bridge to follow the hedge left to the gate leading down the green lane you started out on at. Arrive at the Nags Head.