Day 6. Sat 20th Aug. Wentnor to Acton Bridge. 70 miles

Glad to see the back of the Crown Inn, I cycled back down the hill to meet up with the group.
Caught my first glimpse of Bob since we set off last Sunday! He's been having problems with the distances on his heavy hybrid, getting back  much later than us each day. But this morning he seemed to be in high spirits, I noticed one of the panier's had been ditched. Wise decision.
70 miles today and apart from the first few miles through the Shropshire Hills, gently undulating,was the word for the day, through Shropshire ,briefly touching wales and into Cheshire to Acton Bridge, just east of Runcorn.
We set off at 8.45 and were soon into our stride. Today was a good day for cycling. With no Wind to speak of and the sun shining. We had been given news from home off all the rain in the south of England. Shame. Sunny up North!
We were soon eating up the miles, passing through PONTESBURY the other side of the Shropshire Hills.
I noticed the road signs were again in English and Welsh, with signs showing we were close to WREXHAM.
Lunch was in MALPAS in CHESHIRE. 10 miles further on at 32miles. We passed over the Shropshire Union Canal, then doubled back to take some pictures of the canal boats and to catch our breath. Then on to Malpas.


Shropshire Union Canal

MALPAS is a historic town dating back to the 9th century and the Mercian Saxons and is mentioned in the great doomsday book  of 1086.
We stopped opposite the monument and found a great little Cafe'/Restaurant called 'A Table at Eatons'.
Which is run by husband and wife John and Louise Furnival. It's a grade II listed building with a splendid eating area upstairs. A delicious homemade soup of cauliflower and stilton was consumed with our tea and coffee. Scones for desert with scrumptious homemade jam. It was such a nice place with great hospitality that we stayed for an hour. Very unusual for us. We were just getting ready to go  when we were pleased to see Suni and Chris arrive, resplendent in their matching swiss cycling outfits and very expensive carbon light weight bikes. We waved them in, a quick progress report and we were off. Soon speeding along the Cheshire countryside to Beeston Castle at 51 miles. A 13th century castle ruins,built by the Earl of Chester. One of the great barons of Henry III's England. We could just about make out the people walking across the great gatehouse at the top. Apparently you can see across 8 counties from the Welsh mountains in the west to the Pennines in the east.

Beeston Castle

 We passed the  castle and continued north through the DELEMERE FOREST and reached our accommodation the quaint 'Hollybush Inn' at ACTON BRIDGE one of the oldest pubs in England. Dating back to the 16th century. Once a working farm, with the barns converted to 14 en-suite bedrooms.
Jane and I were the first to arrive and were given a warm welcome by Martin and his bar staff. I managed to get an upgrade to a larger room for me and Dave as our room was a bit small and stuffy with just a skylight for ventilation. An hour later we were enjoying a pint in the ancient public bar and were joined by Dave and Jenny a short while later.

Holly Bush Inn

We received wonderful hospitality at the 'Hollybush Inn' and enjoyed a fine meal in the old restaurant. Service with a smile!

Today's Route...       http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/169756782