42 Country Rambles. 



Hartford, quiet lanes from which place lead into the 

 valley of the Weaver.* Thence we move to the margin 

 of Vale Royal Mere, with choice, upon arrival, of one of 

 the most charming sylvan walks in Cheshire, obtained by 

 going through the wood, or a more open path along the 

 opposite shore. To take one path going, the other return- 

 ing, and thus to secure the double harvest, of course 

 is best. So, for the final homeward journey, which should 

 not be by way of Hartford, but via Cuddington. A 

 drive through the glorious fir-plantations which abut upon 

 Vale Royal carries the privileged to another most 

 beautiful scene, Oulton Park, the country seat of the 

 Grey-Egertons. Here again is a sheet of lilied water; 

 here, too, are some of the noblest trees in Cheshire, in- 

 cluding one of the most remarkable lindens the world 

 contains. 



For the visitor to Delamere Forest there is after all no 

 scene more inspiring than is furnished by Eddisbury. 

 Cuddington station will do for this, but the walk is rather 

 too long; it is best to go direct to "Delamere," thence 

 along the road a short distance, and so to the foot of the 

 hill. In the time of the Heptarchy, it was an important 

 stronghold. Rising to the height of five hundred and 

 eighty-four feet above the sea, when in A.D. 914 that 



*This noted Cheshire river rises upon Buckley Heath, near 

 Malpas, going thence past Nantwich and Winsford. At Northwich 

 it joins the Dane; soon afterwards there is confluence with the 

 Peover, the united waters eventually entering the Mersey, not far 

 from Frodsham. 



