02 02 03 03 01 01 Click on a number to see a dog-friendly pint PAWS & PINTS 16/32 Check in to The Pheasant Inn at Higher Burwardsley, a country pub with rooms for those who want to linger longer. Check out one of its three recommended walks from the front door, which range from two to five miles in length. They explore one of the most scenic spots on the Sandstone Ridge, including the medieval ruins of Beeston Castle, which sits high on a crag guarding the plain below. You’ll soon discover why the Ridge has been shortlisted for consideration as a future Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. For route notes, go to The Pheasant Inn → The Pheasant Inn,Higher Burwardsley If a short stroll is all you need to justify a pint, step out along the towpath of Britain’s oldest canal, the Bridgewater. This easy circuit to and from the 17th-century pub Little Manor, at Thelwall, is a reminder of how nature thrives in the lee of our urban conurbations. First trace the route of a disused railway that once carried workers between Warrington and Stockport. Then hop over a flight of steps to join the towpath of James Brindley’s revolutionary waterway, which opened in 1761 to carry coal from the mines at Worsley to Manchester. Refuel and refresh back at the pub. For route notes, go to the Little Manor → Little Manor, Thelwall With the arrival of the railway line from Manchester to Chester in the mid-1800s, pretty Willington became a popular jaunt for city folk seeking fresh country air. In fact, the savvy locals created their own marketing campaign, dubbing the place “Little Switzerland” for its steep-sided valley – look out for the nickname on a signpost. Follow one of the routes suggested by The Boot Inn, where dogs are welcome on the heated terrace. Delamere Forest, with its trails for different walking abilities, is close by, too. For route notes, go to The Boot Inn → The Boot Inn, Willington Never mind a pint, how about a hot chocolate instead? At the Ring O’Bells pub in quaint Christleton, this warm winter brew awaits dog walkers fresh from exploring the nearby Hockenhull Platts. The public footpath from the end of Platts Lane is your gateway to these wetlands and meadows on the banks of the river Gowy. The public path through this nature reserve also crosses three 18th-century packhorse bridges (upgrades of earlier medieval structures) – it’s hard to believe this was once the road from London to Holyhead. Remember to keep Rover on the lead because this place is rich in wildlife. Go to Ring O’ Bells --> and for route notes, see Cheshire Wildlife Trust The Ring O’ Bells, Christleton