Longster Trail

Runs from the top of Helsby Hill to Piper's Ash on the outskirts of Chester - a distance of about 9 miles. The path is signed with "Longster Trail" yellow arrows or yellow arrows with a red dot. Other than Helsby Hill and the hills just behind it the trail is flat, mostly passing through farmland.

Unfortunately, on the day I walked the trail it was blocked between Great Barrow and Guilden Sutton for the laying of gas pipes. This required a diversion along B and A-roads since there is no other foot path. The weather was rather too hot for walking as well - as a result it took me 4 hours to walk the 9 miles.

The route is well marked on Explorer maps 266 (Wirral and Chester) and 267 (Northwich and Delamere Forest) and reasonably well marked on the ground.

Both ends of the trail are served by reasonably close train stations: Helsby at the north end is perhaps half a mile away though mostly uphill while Chester station is a mile or so from the south-western end.

Plenty of accomodation in Chester a mile or so from the end of the trail - though you'll have to cross a dual carriageway to get there.

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