Another week, another walk. This time, our route draws us up and over the rolling fields around Manley and Alvanley, skirting pretty woodland and criss-crossing glittering streams as we go.

The walk is about four miles long, and is quite muddy in parts, so be sure to wear waterproof footwear!

There is a large lay-by with space for several cars on the side of Manley Road (the B5393), a few yards away from Manley Village School.

• From the lay-by, walk to your left down a fairly steep hill towards Alvanley.

To your right you will see Simmondshill Wood rising up in piney slopes towards its crowning rocky crag. This was once the site of a quarry, which, according to a carving in the rock face, dates from at least 1777.

• At the junction, turn right towards Frodsham, and then left to follow the Sandstone Trail up the middle of two fields towards Yarrangall Green.

• Cross over the lane and continue on the Sandstone Trail around the edge of Alvanley Cliff.

As you walk along the path, you will pass in front of the Grade II listed Austerton Hall.

Although you would be forgiven for thinking that this grand country house has been standing in its quiet surroundings for hundreds of years, it is in fact a fairly new addition to the landscape.

Built in the South Cheshire village of Austerton, the house was dismantled and then reassembled in Alvanley in the 1980s!

• The Sandstone Trail path will eventually bring you out onto Commonside. Once on the lane, turn left and follow it along for about 300 metres, at which point, you will see another footpath to your left.

There are several footpaths along Commonside, all leading towards Alvanley, so don't worry if you think you've missed the first one – as long as you reach Manley Road eventually you will be fine!

• Follow the footpath through the fields towards Alvanley. You will reach a point where you can either veer right into the village itself, or to keep left and walk straight down to the road.

Choose the latter and, reaching the end of the field, take another left back along Manley Road.

• Almost immediately, you will see another footpath to your right, leading you down a churned-up farm track into open fields.

• Turn right and continue until you reach the corner of the first field. Follow the path round to the left to walk underneath the electricity pylon.

• Keep going straight, with the hedgerow on your left, before taking a right at the field corner to descend onto a lightly wooded path. If you are struggling to see where you should be going, look out for a fallen Longster Trail sign on the ground.

• This path will bring you out into another field, with sweeping views over to Moel Famau in the distance.

• Keep left to follow the path in between the brambles, noticing a hidden stream slipping serenely between the nearly budding trees. This is Moor's Brook, which runs down to Manley Mere.

• Cross a wooden footbridge over the stream and walk straight up two neighbouring fields, passing over a farm track to access the second.

• As the grass gives onto another farm lane, turn left to walk past a fishing lake (Manley Old Hall Fishery) encircled by some - quite convincing - scarecrows.

• Continuing along this lane, you will reach Manley Old Hall Farm.

The attractive, rather imposing farmhouse that we see today is an important artefact of Manley's centuries-long history.

During King Henry III's reign in around 1216, a manor house was constructed on the site, and surrounded by a moat, the remnants of which can still be seen centuries later.

The house was initially inhabited by the Norman de Manley family, who, for the next three hundred years, ruled as feudal overlords of the surrounding settlement.

In the sixteenth century, the manor was occupied by Henry Gee, who was Mayor of Chester and heavily involved in local horse racing. It is because of his input that we still use the expression 'gee gees' when talking about the sport today!

• Walk to the right and, passing in front of the house, look out for a footpath on your left. This will lead you away from the farm and across two fields before depositing you back on Manley Road.

Before you leave Manley Old Hall behind completely, cast an eye back at the house.

• Once you reach Manley Road once again, a quick right turn will bring you back to the lay-by and your car.

• However, if you wished to extend your walk slightly, you could continue along Manley Old Hall lane instead of turning off into the fields.

• This will bring you out onto Sugar Lane, where you should turn left between the daffodil-lined hedgerows to reach another left onto School Lane.

• Walking up past Manley Village School, you will see the lay-by ahead of you.

Beacon Hill

Frodsham Marsh

Willington and Little Switzerland

Delamere Forest

Beeston Castle

[I]Source: An interesting account of Manley's history written by the Parish Council.