Longster Trail

The Longster Trail is a waymarked footpath in Cheshire, England. It runs for 9.1 miles (14.6 km) from the summit of Helsby Hill, Helsby, to the village of Piper's Ash, Chester, passing through Alvanley, Manley, Barrow, Guilden Sutton, Hoole and Blacon.^[1] The route is shown on Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps 266 and 267.

History

The Longster Trail was devised in the 1970s but the path was first opened and properly waymarked during the 1980s. It was named after Frank Longster, a local man who served as chairman of the Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society during the 1970s until his death in 1974.^[1] The path is waymarked with two waymarks, both the older yellow arrow and red dot markers and the newer yellow arrow which encloses the words Longster Trail.

A new style Longster Trail Waymarker

Sights

Many of the best sights along the Longster Trail are those seen from the summit of Helsby Hill. These include the cathedrals in Liverpool, Beeston Castle and the mountains of North Wales. Helsby Hill itself is viewable from most of the Longster Trail. The path also passes two public houses along its length, namely The White Horse in Great Barrow, and the Bird in Hands in Guilden Sutton. The end of the path is also very close to the The Piper, a pub on the side of the A41 road, Chester.

The summit marker and start of the Longster Trail, Helsby Hill

The end point of the trail on the edge of the A41 road, Pipers Ash, Chester

The altitude profile of the Longster Trail showing the maximum height of the path at Helsby Hill

References

1. 1 2 "The Longster Trail" (PDF). The Mid-Cheshire Footpath Society. 2014. p. 4. Retrieved 22 January 2016. 

External links

• The Long Distance Walkers Association - basic info on the Longster Trail