Discovering Programme
Overview of Discovery Programme activities - At each of the sites there is a programme of activities scheduled over the 3 year scheme, click here for more information.
Access management issues
As preparation for this Scheme, a condition survey was undertaken at all 6 hillfort sites, looking at existing Public Rights of Way (PROW) and their existing condition. This has been supplemented with a disability access appraisal carried out by specialist consultants with recommendations to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities (with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) in mind).
There are a number of access issues which are common to the sites; points of access (access controls), the lack of constructed paths (and therefore an absence of full accessibility), support and resting for those with a mobility impairment and access to information and route-finding for all, including those with sensory impairments.
There appears an inconsistency towards access management at the point of site entry; within individual sites people of differing abilities may be able to access (or not) at different entries - with four of the six sites openly accessible to potentially unwanted users (given site management issues) eg. horse-riders and motorcyclists. Initial observations include:
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Some features within sites are more physically restrictive than initial points of entry.
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There are generic features which commonly occur that could be significantly improved for accessibility eg. Step flights.
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The Clear Walking Tunnel is not regularly maintained on the ‘promoted’ paths within the sites.
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There is a relatively low frequency of seating and resting.
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Site based information and route-finding is often low key.
For more detailed information on accessibility for each of the six areas please contact the project team.
Helsby
Woodhouse
Kelsborrow
Eddisbury
Beeston
Maiden Castle
Train stations are potentially important gateways into the northern part of the Scheme area, and information about the hillforts at Helsby, Woodhouse, Kelsborrow and Eddisbury could be provided at the stations.
With 4 large settlements and a population of 40,000 people within the Sandstone Ridge area, the transport network is key to getting people around, not only local residents but also visitors to the area. The area is well served by road links although local issues of signage to the hillforts (where appropriate) can make improvements at the very local level.
The relationship between the rights of way network and hillforts and areas of habitat enhancement and creation is of particular significance. This can provide opportunities for visitors as well as local residents to experience and understand the heritage resources and provides opportunities to promote the Habitat & Hillforts brand.
Footpaths within the scheme area are of varying quality and ease of use. Cheshire County Council has a designated team of Rights of Way Officers who have the task of maintaining the network free of obstructions and easy to use. Their small budget per year is primarily used for statutory functions including signage and small surfacing jobs where appropriate. The LPS has the potential to invest complementary funds for access improvements, above and beyond statutory duties in each of the hillfort areas.
Bridleway access has been a long standing issue on the Ridge, primarily within the southern area. This was identified in background papers for the Cheshire Rights of Way Improvement Plan, showing a significant gap around Beeston, Peckforton and Bickerton. Feedback through the Development Phase also identified a need for ‘more accessible off-road riding’. This is something that will be addressed through the life of the Scheme, with two projects ready to roll out in year 1: Peckforton Woods multi user access and the Haunted bridge, east west link across the Peckforton Hills.
Recommendations from the access condition report mainly outline the need for an accessibility statement for the Scheme, and a link between this and accessibility with the public rights of way and/or open access has been made.
General observations from the disability access appraisal highlight the difficulties which arise due to the nature of the Scheme area. The scheduled status of the hillforts may put limitations on work that would be desired to improve accessibility to the hilltops for people with disabilities. Few of the site paths can be considered fully accessible to all potential users, as would be expected due to the nature of the terrain. It has been recommended through the report that an overall policy on boundary features and their associated gates and stiles be produced and specific paths have a continuity of footpath accessibility. The issue of boundary features is critical to the physical access management of the sites, so that an individual will know whether they are able to complete any specific route.
Helsby Hill has a good access network enabling direct access to the fort remains. Due to the steep nature of the site, paths vary in condition. The 7 main access routes from metalled/urban roads lead up onto the fort itself and suffer from erosion largely due to pedestrian use.
The permissive route to the hilltop provides a gentle inclined path suitable for the less able. Unfortunately parking is limited in this area. Parking facilities are available from the Vale Royal Borough Council car park off Alvanley Road, from which you can access the fort area via a steep craggy uneven path. Interpretation is provided at the car park, although it is dated and refers directly to the quarry and little else.
Paths in general vary in condition from steep and very uneven to wider earth surfaced tracks, along the base of the hill known as Helsby Carriage Way. There are few ‘barriers’ situated on the routes as there is no stock grazing. Squeeze gaps have been put in place to prevent unwanted motorised access, as well as wicket and kissing gates.
The area is accessed for primarily recreational purposes, generally being used by local residents of Helsby. There are 5 definitive routes linking directly from the town to the Hill. There is limited scope to increase routes in the Helsby Hill area due to terrain and landscape features. There is however scope to improve path surface, signage and furniture to achieve not necessarily more use but a better quality visit.
Woodhouse supports a good access network of public rights of way, including the Sandstone Trail which skirts directly around the eastern edge of the hillfort itself. There are in total 11 definitive public rights of way linking to the hillfort itself or onto the Sandstone Trail.
The paths vary in quality from wide open tree-lined tracks with earth surfaces, to steep craggy paths leading directly off the hill. The network is obviously heavily used to access the hill from the nearby settlements of Helsby and Frodsham. There are 2 definitive bridleways situated to the east of the fort area. These are in varying quality and suffer considerably from erosion and demonstrate the issues of multi user routes.
Signage from finger posts, way mark posts and way mark discs is generally good in the area. Interpretation is available on the hill, but does not provide information about the hillfort itself. The landowner – the Woodland Trust - has erected an interpretation panel situated just off the Sandstone Trail which relate to an area of new planting at Snidley Moor. There is also an interpretation panel at the view point which relates to ‘the view’. Parking is limited; there is a lay-by area at the base of BR90 (SST) providing enough room for approximately 3 – 4 cars.
Interpretation is limited in the area. There is little mention of the hillfort, despite there being good access in and around the fort itself. At present an interpretation board is situated just off FP43 on the west side of the fort. This board refers generally to the ancient shoreline of the Mersey Estuary and the Manchester Ship Canal. There is also an interpretation board situated off BR90, where there is a disabled kissing gate aiding access into Woodland Trust land. The interpretation board refers primarily to the wooded area, the new planting and the history of Woodhouse Hill.
There is no public access to the main part of the hillfort, but the Forestry Commission owns land to the immediate east and north of the fort area, up to and including parts of the ramparts on the northern edge. There is open access available off Eddisbury Hill Lane, although the top of the fort is fenced and inaccessible.
There are 3 main definitive routes nearby, and a busy visitor centre at Linmere (FC) to the north of the fort. Paths are generally in good condition: wide tracks with sand and earth surfacing and fairly level gradients. There are a number of permissive routes linking off the Sandstone Trail into the woodland itself and up to Old Pale Heights, a view point in the area.
All of the definitive routes link to the Sandstone Trail, which continues through the forest on a wide open track with undulating gradients and a fairly even surface. There are a number of information points along the route, also a Sandstone Trail information panel situated in Gresty’s Waste car park, the main feeder car park for the area. There is also parking at the visitor centre, but none in the immediate area of the fort. Signage is limited in the vicinity of the fort, but the Trail is well signed to the west of the fort.
There is scope to improve access and awareness of the fort in the general area: good views of the fort can be seen from the visitor centre, where there is little if no information readily available. Interpretation could also be situated on site, at the base of the hillfort. Permissive access to the hillfort’s summit would also be desirable.
There are 3 definitive footpaths in the vicinity of the fort, although not directly to the fort itself. Kissing gates are generally used and this particular path at the fort is heavily used by both visitors and local people. There is potential for improving the interpretation of the fort within the vicinity and also improving access into the fort via a permissive route.
Paths in the area are generally of fair to good quality, with few or no stiles impeding access. Paths are also well signed. The Sandstone Trail does not access the area directly and there are no linking routes from the Trail. Roads however are fairly quiet in the area and link to the Sandstone Trail via Chapel Lane, and also the Summertrees Tea Shop.
The Sandstone Trail skirts the edge of the scheduled area, joining 2 definitive PROWs. In the immediate area of the castle (outside the gates) there are 10 definitive routes connecting to the minor rural road which surrounds the castle. These are all of foot path designation and vary in condition. The general network of paths appears to be lightly used, outside the area of the castle.
Paths within the vicinity of the castle are along desire lines, where it is suitable to walk, generally on an open access understanding. The main path to the top of the hill, is gravelled and stepped in places. Beeston Outdoor Education Centre is situated adjacent to FP14A linking to the Sandstone Trail just south of the castle. The centre uses the castle area heavily and also the linking rights of ways.
Interpretation is limited outside the castle walls: there is a Sandstone Trail information panel situated near the gatehouse of the castle. Parking is limited in the area. Beeston Castle has a designated parking area which is closed when the castle is closed and there is no interpretation sited in this car park.
Maiden Castle
Bickerton Hill and Maiden Castle are owned primarily by the National Trust. Access onto the Hill is generally good, the majority of the Hill being ‘open access’. There are a number of ‘desire lines’ and permissive routes across the area adding to the existing definitive footpaths. The 20 main access routes onto the hill are from metalled/urban roads, all of which are definitive ROW footpaths. They vary in condition considering the steep terrain. The general network of paths is heavily used.
The area is primarily used for recreational purposes, walking dogs and using the Sandstone Trail. Horse riding is available across the hill but by permit only. There is no official bridleway access. There is also an ‘easy access’ route available where limited parking is provided, but with permission only. Wicket gates and kissing gates are the main type of furniture used on the majority of paths.
There are 2 main car parks and a number of other unofficial lay-by parking areas available. The popular Sandstone Trail runs directly along the ridge of the Hill, linking Maiden Castle and Bickerton. The condition of paths in this area is generally good, largely a sandy earth surface or bedrock in places. User erosion is the main problem in this area and managing desire lines is important.
There are 2 Sandstone Trail information boards situated in the area, near car parks. Interpretation in general is also good. There is an interpretative board situated at Maiden Castle relating directly to the scheduled area, and a number of general National Trust boards situated at the car parks. Kitty’s Stone is another feature of interest situated on the Bickerton Hill.