TSW Day 4 – Nantwich to Chester

It was the polar opposite to yesterday. The weather played ball, I even caught the sun! The way markers were 99% of the time on par. There was one marker coming out of Bunbury that was on the wrong direction, however it was a dead give away, as it wasn’t pointing to the big hill with a castle on top.

After spending the night in one the most craziest buildings, I was refreshed after the previous day’s antics. The Crown Hotel, doesn’t have a single level surface. The floors all slope, the stairs are crooked, not even the toilet roll holder was straight! What topped it off was the hot water came out the cold tap.

It’s a very oldie worldie place and it’s all part of its charm. If a building was to be haunted, it would be this one. (Although I didn’t experience any ghostly apparitions, but that could be because I slept like I’d just walked over 40km).

At 7.30am I started my walk to Chester. Once out of Nantwich I joined the Shropshire Union Canal, lapping up the sunshine; although there was a biting wind. At Acton I left the canal to cut across fields to join the Llangollen Canal.

I followed this until it joined the Shropshire canal after a series of steep locks. Finding the sign pointing to Chester, I followed the towpath, pausing once to chat with a fisherman preparing for a competition at the weekend.

The route leaves the canal at Bunbury along country roads. Opposite the church, the ‘Dysart Arms’ was advertising ‘Elevenses’. Looking at my watch it was 11 o’clock; it would be rude not to stop.

After my food and refilling my water bottle I hit the trail into Beeston. The castle ruins sitting on top of a freestanding hill became my focal point. From the castles entrance (at the bottom of the hill – no way was I climbing up) I cut across fields back to the Shropshire Union Canal.

I followed the canal all way to Chester Cathedral. It was so peaceful and tranquil walking the towpath. Listening to the birds sing and the wind rustling through the trees and hedgerows made the kilometres flyby.

Although I had a headwind, it was welcomed as it kept me cool. Soon the countryside gave way to the suburbs of Christleton then the outskirts of Chester, right into the heart of the city, below the old city’s walls.

Up a flight of stairs and I was walking these fortifications with the Cathedral to my right. Following the signs, I walked along St. Werburgh Street to the entrance.

I had completed my pilgrimage, and emblazoned on a door was the scallop shell, bringing back memories of the Camino. I went inside as the journey isn’t complete until you stand before St. Werburgh’s shrine, tucked right at the back in a little chapel.

Now I need to start planning my next adventure!