MG- SW , Bad Weather To Tilly’s

by Neil Tanner
3 days ago
Near Chester, GB

6 views

This is a favourite and probably the best small hills route, close to home, for bad weather and south westerly winds.
With the option of a cafe stop if it’s really cold, at Tilly’s of course, which is open 7 days a week now, as under new management.
I have really exploited the wind direction and the protection that Peckforton ridge provides ( Stone house lane) I have also taken advantage of lanes that are slightly down hill, when heading into the wind hence, the lovely lane from Tilston is used in both directions as it is slightly down hill when heading to Tilston ( into the wind in this case) Therefore. Means it is slightly uphill in the other direction, but with the wind of course.
Note, that even if the wind is directly SW, even Stone house lane still gets a lot of protection, because it is not only in the Lea of the ridge, but tree lined. It’s a lane that is predominantly uphill, so you need that protection. Also Long lane, although in a SW direction is slightly down hill, which helps against the head wind of course.
Again the start of this route not only avoids Rocky lane, which floods a lot these days, but is also a flat start and from Barton is down hill. The return leg through Carden Park is basically flat and varies the route.
NOTE, It’s easy to cut out the cafe, if not needed by turning right into Stone house lane and by passing the loop into Bunbary. This reduces the route by 1.5 miles and ideal for a no cafe stop ride.