Just a stone's throw from Manley and Mouldsworth sits a pleasant circular walk around Ashton Hayes and the fringes of Kelsall.

Seeing as it avoids low-lying fields and enclosed woodland, this walk is one of the few that come without a mud warning!

The route covers anything between four and five miles, depending on the shortcuts you might choose to take, and there are a few spaces for you to park outside the old Golden Lion pub.

• From the Golden Lion, turn left to walk down Kelsall Road past Ashton Hayes and Mouldsworth Community Shop.

• Reaching the end of the road, turn left onto Duck Lane, although if you want to explore the area you could take a quick trip to your right to catch a glimpse of the Grade II* listed, seventeenth-century Ashton Hall Farmhouse, which, according to Historic England, contains a 'very unusual Jacobean staircase'.

• Back on Duck Lane, continue until the road bends sharply to the left to become Pentre Lane. Instead of following it round, carry straight on to reach Shay Lane, which eventually becomes a farm track with 'no through road signs at its entrance.

• This path soon becomes enclosed by the fresh green of trees in their spring splendour, home to willow warblers, chaffinches and other woodland birds.

• As it cuts across the fields, the track will bring you as the crow flies to the outskirts of Kelsall, emerging onto Longley Lane, where you should turn left.

• Walking along the quiet road, with its views over to the Welsh hills, keep looking out for an Eddisbury Way footpath sign on your left.

Covering 16.5 miles, the Eddisbury Way stretches from Frodsham to High Burwardsley, touching on Delamere Forest before forging on through Kelsall, Duddon and Huxley.

• This path will take you down into a field and to the right. Pass by one long line of tall fir trees and towards a second, where you should take a left turn to skirt round the edge of the field.

• When you reach the far corner, head into the field directly in front, keeping the neighbouring buildings to your left.

• Follow the field boundary round, and then follow the footpath through the fir hedge and over a stile.

• Step out into the next field, heading vaguely to the left to reach a gateway at the end. If you're lucky you might be met by some lambs gamboling over the grass.

• The end of the field gives onto a farm track that will bring you round to the right. Look out for a metal gate ahead. Once you reach it you will see two stiles sitting on your left. Use them to cross into the next field, and then head down towards another stile.

• This will emerge onto Brines Brow Lane, where a left turn will bring you to a triangular junction with Old Lane.

• Turn left onto said lane, past a small copse currently specked with the deep violet of bluebells.

• At a fork in the road, bear left onto Grange Road, past the luxury tents of Lloyds Meadow Glamping.

• At the end of the lane, turn left to return to Ashton Hayes. If you want to head straight back to your car, you can just continue up the road past Ashton Hayes Primary School and towards the Golden Lion.

• However, if you would like to avoid the road, you can take a footpath sitting to your right before you start climbing the hill of Church Road.

• Turning left, you will walk through a field towards a metal gate, at which point the path forks. Here, continue to the right to follow the footpath behind St John the Evangelist's Church.

Built in 1848-9 with stone quarried from Manley, the church has a 116 foot spire, which can be seen for miles around. Several bombs fell on the village during the Second World War, with one only missing the church building by about 50 yards.

• Follow the footpath through the fields until it brings you out onto Gongar Lane. Cross straight over to join a track up to Peel Hall.

This Grade II* listed mansion house was built in 1637, and although it has been reduced in size over the years, it still retains its atmospheric Jacobean character.

In 1690, while travelling to Ireland to fight the Battle of Boyne, King William III himself made a stop-off at the house, where he was hosted by Colonel Roger Whitley, latterly the Mayor of Chester.

• The footpath brings you round the back of Peel Hall, which is now a farmhouse, turning you towards Ashton once again.

• Having walked through the attractive paddocks of the old estate, you will emerge onto Peel Hall Lane, which comes to an end just a few yards away from the Golden Lion on your left.

• Although you won't be able to get a post-walk drink at this pub, The Goshawk is only about a mile down the road in Mouldsworth, while in the opposite direction, Tarvin offers a range of food and drink establishments.

If you enjoyed this walk, you might want to try another!

Frodsham and Helsby Hill

Primrosehill Wood

Alvanley Cliff

Manley and Alvanley

Helsby Hill