Marbury really is in the middle of nowhere. A maze of narrow Cheshire lanes conceals a pretty village whose leaning Norman Church overlooks the picturesque Big Mere. The churchyard has a 1000 year old yew but alas, legend says, if the tree falls, so will the church. Perhaps the most unusual feature of the village is the tree in the centre of the green, commonly known as the Waterloo tree. But it was planted in 1813, one year before the famous battle! Were the inhabitants able to see into the future? Presumably not and the name was bestowed in commemoration. It is surrounded by a seat, a welcome rest if the pub isn't open. Then the return is along the Shropshire Union Canal where you may, like us, be lucky enough to see a boat going through the lock.
LOCATION: Six miles south-west of Nantwich
START: Marbury, roadside parking on Wrenbury Road beyond the Swan Inn
Grid ref: SJ562458 Postcode: SY134LT
DISTANCE: 4 miles
GRADE: Easy
TIME: 2 hours
MAP: Explorer - Crewe & Nantwich Landranger 117
REFRESHMENTS: Swan Inn
EN ROUTE: Wirswall, Quoisley, Shropshire Union Canal
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News