10/8/25
King Charles III England Coast Path Burton Marsh on the Linear
I’ve been itching to get out on the Linear for a longer ride for weeks and today was the most likely day.
Although I’ve been meaning to do a century ride for a couple of years on the Linear I’ve got near but no cigar so far. I was heartened by my recent 90 miler on the Rans Stratus XP though that is a different beast and the miles come more easily on that.
Home to Four Lane Ends
Maybe today? Though as my start time got pushed back for various reasons it was getting less likely. Target for today, New Brighton via Chester, Burton Marsh, Wirral Way to Bromborough, then Easton, Birkenhead, Wallasey, New Brighton. Return Via Hoylake, West Kirby and the Wirral Way, Burton Marsh, Chester etc. Would see how far I could get, and take it as it came.
I eventually set off at 10:45 not feeling at my best. I had achy legs from the start but hoped they would settle down.
I came to the lights at Darnhall Bridge which were green so I was able to rush the dip and get a good way up the other side before having to get to the top in lower gears. A noticeable headwind then made its presence felt, but would be helpful on the way back.
I reached my right turn on to Hickhurst Lane and made the most of the flatter section despite the headwind until I came to the junction with Kings Lane. From here on Hickhurst Lane gradually climbed to Eaton. Only a few miles but it was the sort of uphill you couldn’t attack and get over it. It just sapped your speed and energy without looking dramatic. There was a vintage car event at Oulton Park. A regular procession of vintage vehicles gave me something to look at as I made my way.
Finally a dip then a pull up the steep access to a T junction to turn left to Four Lane Ends and the A49. An undulating road, with long dips and sharp climbs.
Not much traffic though, but I came up behind a horse just where I wanted to get speed up. I eased off to pass, then heard the hoofbeats breaking into a trot behind me. I heard them behind me for about half a mile as I slowly climbed another summit. Was I about to be overtaken by a horse? They stopped after a while. Perhaps the rider had just wanted to get to their turn off quickly before any other traffic came.
Four Lane Ends to Waverton
I came up behind another cyclist as I approached the lights at Four Lane Ends. I willed the lights to change but ended up stopping behind him. They changed and we set off ahead on to the A49. I stuck with him for a while then he gradually pulled away. It was flat here, then gradually sloped downhill. My turn off for Tiverton appeared on the right.
A short uphill, then the trend was largely downhill to Huxley. I knew I would suffer for it on the way back, but there was always the hope that the wind would keep up to give me some help on the way. Some cyclists came the other way as I navigated the potholes and patching in Huxley, then turned left to enjoy a steeper downhill to turn right on to Long Lane and NCN 45. This lane was stiff with cyclists. It was Sunday, of course. It would be much quieter mid week. A lot of acknowledging, head nodding and hand lifting followed. Ping. Coming through on the right. Up the steep bridge over the Shropshire Union Canal, a burst of speed to make the most of the downhill, then back to mundane plodding.
It wasn’t long before I reached Waverton to stop at what has become a regular staging post at Egg Bridge.
Not long after I’d sat down at a bench what looked like a cycling club run on gravel bikes came across the car park and disappeared under the bridge on to the towpath towards Chester. At the time I’d been considering a plan A to go to Chester via the towpath then get on the Greenway, or plan B to go via the lanes to Guilden Sutton to get on the Greenway there.
Plan A was shorter but might take longer if busy, Plan B was longer but would most likely be quicker.
I’d previously ridden the towpath through Chester centre on the Spirit and it had been very enjoyable, and also part of it on the Rans. I hadn’t ridden that way on the Linear though, and I was curious to see how it coped despite being bit concerned that the extra width of the underseat bars might cause issues under some of the bridges.
There were many ducks about, but not the masses of them that I’d seen last time.
Waverton to the Saxon Warrior
So it was that I set off under Egg Bridge on the towpath. The first couple of hundred yards were a bit tricky with encroaching undergrowth but after that the towpath was wide and well surfaced into Chester.
The first people I came across were three women, two of whom stood aside while the other one walked on. “That’s some bike you’ve got there lad! Take care now!” Lad? I was at least twice her age. She had a broad scouse accent. Perhaps it’s a Liverpool thing. As I went past them I saw a cormorant swimming towards Waverton but having concentrated on getting past these women I missed the chance for a photo. Unusual to see a cormorant in a canal. They usually prefer tidal waters.
This was a very pleasant though slow ride and I passed under several bridges and past several locks, all going downhill. The width of the bars posed no problems, though there was no room for two to pass under most of them.
Once I came into the centre the towpath became crowded with walkers and dawdlers. Canalside restaurants and pubs were doing good business. Fortunately there were minor roads alongside the canal which it was easy to hop on to in the interests of keeping going.
I came to the vicinity of King Charles’ tower and was soon under the city walls. I managed to overtake a number of walkers before the towpath narrowed and shrank against the rock. One side rock, the other side the unappetisingly brown water of the canal.
It was a bit of a wind tunnel between the rock walls. I felt my cap ripple and lift. I made a grab for it, the bike wobbled to the left, the bar end made contact and I came to a rest against the rock wall. Hmm. At least I didn’t veer into the canal.
I bottled it for a few minutes. Ahead I saw some plant growth, then the towpath looked slightly wider. I paddled forward to that point. I looked in the mirror to see the people I’d passed earlier getting closer. Someone on what I thought was a red BMX bike came up behind, but as he went past I saw it was a Brompton. A cyclist ahead stopped to let me get past, so as I didn’t want to disappoint him, I gingerly got going.
Plain sailing then to Northgate locks. These are staircase locks which means that they run directly into each other without an intervening pound. There is a 33ft drop from the top level to the bottom.
They were cut into the existing rock.
The original canal went straight on through two more locks to a basin then to the river Dee. When the connection to Ellesmere Port was constructed, the canal diverted to the right and a new access to the Dee was built. The towpath followed the canal to the right. I stopped for a break at a bench opposite Telford’s Wharf, then pressed on.
A little further on, the towpath crossed over to the other side with a straight ramp to a bridge followed by a spiral ramp on the other.
I carried on along the towpath for a mile or so until I came to the Saxon warrior which marks the spot where NCN 45 meets the access ramp to the Chester Greenway. Slower going than I’d anticipated, still, I’d see how far I could get by about 3pm.
Saxon Warrior to Sealand Bridge
After taking a photo I went up the ramp and turned left towards the west on the Greenway. It was busy here, walkers, cyclists, going in both directions. The traffic thinned as I came towards Blacon. A large group of cyclists overtook me, some on ebikes. I passed through the old Blacon station.
Shortly afterwards there was a whine and a youth on an electric motorbike came up behind me. “Uh oh” I thought. Was he about to be accompanied by a bunch of his mates? “I’ve never seen anything so mad in all me life, lad” he said. I was quite distracted by being called “lad” for the second time today. Particularly as I was probably about five times his age. “Maybe you need to get out more?” I suggested. He rode alongside for a minute or two. “How does it work?”. I was doing about 13 mph at the time, with my feet quite obviously pushing the pedals round. “Er, you pedal it” I said.
“How much did it cost?” He asked, which I interpreted as “would it be worth nicking?”. “I’ve had this for a long time, and it’s pretty old, so not much. If you wanted a new one, about as much as any decent bike these days.” He watched me ride for another couple of minutes, maybe having trouble taking it in, then said, “see ya” and zipped away.
Walkers and cyclists came and went, and soon I came to the high bridge at Sealand which crosses a multi lane road. I climbed up the slope then stopped briefly to take in the view, before carrying on towards Burton Marsh.
Sealand Bridge to Burton Marsh.
I zoomed down the other side of the steep bridge. Before I reached Hawarden bridge a sign for Neston led me through a wood then an industrial estate, well signposted and with good infrastructure.
A couple on bikes came alongside. The man said, “This is a new experience. I’ve never ridden alongside a recumbent bike before.” I replied, “First time I’ve been here myself. It’s a different sort of new experience for me.” There were many cyclists coming and going. A man came the other way on a bike with a child trailer and two small kids on tiny bikes.
After the industrial estate the route wound about under several bridges before coming alongside some MOD land with plenty of dire warnings to keep out as it was a shooting range.
Next was a sign for Burton Marsh and Neston. Burton Marsh trail is part of the England Coast Path. I’d gone into Wales with no fanfare and now came to a welcome to England sign.
The trail is strictly fenced off from the nature reserve but there is plenty to see and enjoy. Part of it runs across the marsh on a raised boardwalk which rumbled and squeaked as my wheels went over it. Some cattle grids too, to add interest. On the inland side there was a sheep farm with many sheep lying down or sheltering from the sun.
As I went along there were some striking outcrops of red sandstone on the inland side. Possibly in past times when the sea level was higher these were sea cliffs.
Many visitors were picking blackberries which were growing profusely under the cliffs. There really were a lot of people about and soon I came to an exit with an adjacent car park. I felt I’d made slow progress today, having taken longer than expected to reach the 30 mile mark. It was also becoming very hot. Rather than press on to Neston today I decided to retrace my route then get on the Wales Coast Path back to Chester.
Burton Marsh to the Saxon Warrior
Motivated by the prospect of taking a snack break once I got on to the Wales Coast Path alongside the Dee, which is well provided with benches, I set off in hope of making better progress on the way back. Certainly with the wind now at my back progress was easier but with no cooling breeze in my face I was heating up.
Uneventfully passing a welcome to Wales sign, (including part of somebody else's bike),
the MOD firing range, the various overbridges and the cyclist friendly industrial estate, I was soon in the woodland and turning right for Hawarden bridge. I was really looking forward to a break now, coming up to 40 miles. I’d been wearing a newish pair of shoes untried on any previous longish bike rides and my soles were complaining a bit. The first twinge of recumbutt was joining in to keep them company. Funny how once one thing starts, the rest join in. More a symptom of needing a break and a sugar boost than anything else, I suspect.
Soon I was on the ramp up to Hawarden Bridge station, then turning left to go down again on to the Wales Coast Path which follows the arrow-straight canalised section of the Dee between here and Chester. I passed the Shotton clock tower building before coming to a stop at the first vacant bench and having a drink and a snack.
I noticed a crow eyeing me up in the hope of a crumb. I threw it a bit of fig roll which it snapped up, then another one. How close would it dare to come? I dropped another bit fairly close by and it rushed up to pick it up before retreating to a safe distance. Everyone feeds the cute birds but crows get a bad press. Yet they’re quite smart, are shown to have more self awareness than many creatures, and can tell humans apart.
I got going again. It’s a rather mind numbing stretch of path with no great variety of things to look at apart from having to get through some barriers and cross a couple of roads nearer the Hawarden end. The main bridges haven’t been there forever. You can see the remains of previous abutments if you look carefully as you roll by. The river was nearly at high tide when I rode the path this time. Not so many cyclists and walkers here as on the other paths.
On and on I went, until the path began to curve left. I passed a sign on the path, back the way I’d come for Chepstow, ahead for Chester. Not all the Wales Coast Path is cycleable, a lot of it is footpath.
The river goes off to the right while the path goes through a park and ends on a pavement mixed user facility. I crossed the reedy canal access to the Dee then a little further on I crossed over to Tower Road, up a hill, then down a ramp on the right to join the canal at the bottom of Northgate locks.
I went left under a bridge to stop at the same bench I’d sat on earlier, opposite Telford’s Wharf.
Not far from here to the bridge where the towpath crosses over to the other side of the canal. I followed the towpath to the Saxon Warrior once more.
Saxon Warrior to Waverton
Up the ramp to the Greenway again, this time turning right. I plugged on steadily, enjoying the shade after the exposed ride along the Wales Coast Path. Up and down a bit, though the trend feels mostly uphill going in this direction. Not so many bikes or walkers at this time of day. A young looking person on an e motorbike passed me going the other way casually texting as he went.
Before I knew it, I was at my turn off for Guilden Sutton, left down a ramp, right under a bridge, then uphill along a bridleway, on to an unmetalled road, over a steep railway bridge then I could relax a bit as I freewheeled to Guilden Sutton Lane.
Left downhill, then right on the level on Bellevue Lane. After a sharp right turn a climb uphill over the M53 to turn left on to Hare Lane. Over the M53 again, across the A51 on to Little Heath Lane, Village Lane, left on to Plough Lane then right on to Brown Heath Road to Waverton. Right on to Eggbridge Road, then a canalside stop at Egg Bridge.
I parked at bench near the bridge, took off my shoes and rested my stockinged feet on them.
Then I drank a Diet Pepsi, had a snack and chilled for a bit while watching the ducks.
Some walkers with dogs and kids went by but it was definitely quieter than it had been earlier.
I got sorted out, set my lights to flash as it wasn’t dark but would be by the time I got nearer home.
Then off I went along NCN 45. Eggbridge Road, left on to Village Lane, Long Lane. The tall bridge over the Shropshire Union canal, left turn uphill to Huxley, then the long gradual uphill to Tiverton.
A relief to reach the short downhill to the A49. A brief break, then I cycled along the path alongside the A49 until the hill levelled out.
A tractor came roaring up the hill followed by a stream of cars. I waited until they’d all gone past then followed them to the lights at Four Lane Ends. The tractor went straight on in the direction of Eaton while the cars turned off, leaving myself and a couple of cars waiting at red. I went straight on at green while the cars turned off.
Then, the long slog to the first summit. I could see the tractor’s lights briefly far ahead before they disappeared.
Once over the top, a gradual increase in speed down a long dip to get over the second summit followed by charging downhill to get up the next one then a grind up the remaining uphill into Eaton.
From the left on Sapling Lane came another tractor, maybe even the same one from earlier having dropped off his load, which turned off down Hickhurst Lane.
I hung back from the downhill here to give him time to get clear or turn off then went for it downhill to get over the next rise.
Finally, some downhill with a following wind for a few miles before it levelled out. Then left on to Winsford Road, Hall Lane and into Darnhall. Through the lights at the bridge, up the other side and eventually to my back gate.
Today’s ride felt slower and harder than usual. I certainly felt better after my last trip of just under 90 miles on the Rans. Still, a bit of suffering this time might prepare me for the next longer one. Certainly the leg from Waverton to home felt better than I’d expected considering how I’d felt earlier today. Definitely Plan B next time I come this way, now that I’ve got Plan A out of my system on the Linear! Whatever route, definitely need to start earlier next time.
Distance 64.03 miles. Max Speed 25.8 mph. Average 7.3 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 1139 ft. According to Bikehike.
will be riding this one again and look to expand it…
