Enjoy a day in the saddle exploring Cheshire via new 35-mile ride

By Katy Islip

General news

19 January 2012 10:42

Riders can enjoy the beautiful Cheshire countryside thanks to a new 35-mile ride mapped out by a rider who wanted to share her home county’s beauty spots.

Laureen Roberts, a member of access and bridleways group North Cheshire Riders (NCR), came up with the idea for the ride while recovering from a broken leg, and planned a route passing through fields, lanes, woodland and bridleways, with off-road riding comprising just under half the total distance.

Funding for the ride, including signposts, advertising leaflets and repair work to bridleways, has come from the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) Olympic legacy fund HOOF, plus a range of individuals and clubs.

Laureen said: “Supporters include not only members of bridleways and endurance groups but also riding clubs, cycling groups, the BHS of course, local parish councils and Cheshire East Council, both the tourism and the rights of way people.

“In fact the ride would never have got off the ground without the rights of way staff, who took on the bid at the eleventh hour when the BEF ruled that a bridleway group as a charity could not apply in its own name.”

Named Laureen’s Ride by her fellow NCR members, the route is shaped like a figure of eight, with the northern ‘Heritage’ loop running close to Manchester airport as well as the National Trust-owned Quarry Bank Mill.

The southern section, called the Cheshire Cheese loop, passes polo fields including those at 16th-century Peover Hall, used by General Patton in the Second World War, before following an ancient path called Salter’s Way, which was used by pack ponies carrying salt from nearby mines.

The ride is also aimed at cyclists, who share rights on bridleways, and the signs sport both a horse and rider and a ridden bike.

Laureen said: “We wanted to counter the idea that horses and bicycles can’t get along. We have after all shared bridleways since 1968 without any wars starting!

“Steep downhill slopes attract mountain bikers and wide roads, cycle tours. Both of these can cause problems for horses but there aren’t any on Laureen’s Ride.”

The southern section of the ride will open on March 31 and there are several events planned for both horse riders and cyclists, including an annual ride run by Sport Endurance in May and another in August run by the Cheshire branch of Endurance GB.

The May event is taking place over the weekend of Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 to enable riders to complete both parts of the ride, with camping available alongside an evening event. 

For more information on Laureen’s Ride, including maps and planned events, visit www.northcheshireriders.webs.com

Further information on endurance riding can be found at www.sportendurance.co.uk and www.endurancegbcheshire.co.uk