Maria’s Love Chester article

Posted September 2, 2024

Our Publicity Officer, Maria, submits a monthly article to Love Chester magazine, relating to a club walk.
Read the latest story here.

Lighting the way

It may still be summer, but members of Chester Rambling and Hill Walking Club often carry a small torch in their rucksacks, for those rare moments when an extra source of light is called for.

Way back in darkest November, our social programme included an evening talk about Hawkstone Follies, across the border in northern Shropshire. The place is a semi natural range of sandstone humps that were transformed, back in the 18th century, into gullies, caves and forests for the entertainment of the Hawkstone Estate’s more adventurous visitors. It was all initiated by the Hill family, who imported exotic trees to grow alongside the native species on their land. The resulting woodlands became a habitat for a variety of birds, reptiles and mammals. Added to this were the terraced walkways, caves and follies that we still see today. During the 1800s, visitors came in droves to see what must have been a delightful trip away for town-based Victorians.

However, over the years, too much cash was invested in the park, and the last of the Hill family to live at Hawkstone was declared bankrupt in 1894. Throughout the 20th century their lovingly created forests and follies became neglected, overgrown and almost forgotten. The estate was sold off in the 1920s, and it wasn’t until the 1990s that the follies were reborn as a tourist attraction. After restoration they reopened to the public in 1993, though work is ongoing to keep alive the quirky nature of the gullies and grottoes that continue to enchant visitors. One of our Midweek Walk Organisers thought that all this would make an unusual addition to our summer programme, and set forth to bring it about.

And so it happened that a happy band of 25 members gathered for a hike with a difference one sunny Wednesday recently. Uniquely, this walk wasn’t led by one of our own leaders – we were in the capable hands of the site’s manager, who knows every inch of woodland, and every rock, pathway and folly within the park’s 100 acres.

There was a trail to follow, with optional footpaths for those of a more exploratory nature. Inevitably, our group chose the latter, and enjoyed clambering through dark forests where entangled trunks of colossal rhododendrons were a challenge. Caves, often unlit, required the use of those rarely used head torches we keep in the inner depths of our rucksacks. My favourite bit was scrambling along The Cleft, a narrow ravine, shadowy and undulating, where care had to be taken to avoid ending up prone on the wet gravel!

Every so often, the trail would emerge at a lofty viewpoint, from where the sunny Shropshire countryside could be admired. For those of us who felt we’d not already climbed enough, a long tapering edifice with viewing platform, known simply as The Monument, offered the chance to labour up 150 steps to join Sir Rowland Hill in gazing across countless miles of rolling green hills. Apparently, 13 counties can be seen from here on a good day. Another highlight was the White Tower, a curious name for a summerhouse constructed in red brick. It’s thought to have been an observatory, where bygone guests would have viewed the stars on clear nights.

I’ve absolutely no idea what distance we covered that day, but it was far less than our usual 8-9 miles or so. If you want to follow in our footsteps, a quick online search of Hawkstone Park Follies will take you in the right direction. If you decide to visit, be sure to wear sturdy boots – and take a torch!