Little Switzerland

(S/E) From the front door of the Royal Oak head down the driveway opposite and take the footpath on the left. When you meet a green lane, turn left. At Flat Lane, turn right then immediately left along a metalled path. Follow the path when it bends left over a stream and past a children’s play area to emerge in the centre of Kelsall. Cross the road by the Co‐operative store and then turn right past the telephone kiosk and up Chapel Bank. Turn right at the Methodist Church into Earle’s Lane. At the end of the road go down a driveway opposite, and take a narrow path on the right between hedges that then passes St Phillip’s Church to reach the old main road. Cross over and follow a metalled path opposite, which winds past a small allotment and between fences to emerge on Kelsborrow Way.

(1) Turn left, then right into Kingswood Walk. When this road bends right, follow the footpath straight ahead up a driveway to Quarry Lane. Cross Quarry Lane into Elizabeth Close, and when that bends right, take a metalled footpath between houses called Oakbank and Castle Steps that lead up the hill, with steps partway up. At the top of the slope, go through a kissing gate and swing right to a road. Turn right past Fold Cottage, beyond it following a footpath to the right, along the bottom of the wood. At the end of the wood go through a kissing gate and swing left across undulating open fields. Beyond a kissing gate the path goes down some steps and swings right around the head of the valley known as Little Switzerland, before descending to meet a driveway and then a road.

(2) At the end of this road (Gooseberry Lane), turn right (downhill) past Willington Fruit Farm. Cross the green at Willington Corner and take Willington Lane, opposite. Follow this road for half a mile, ignoring a turning on the right to Kelsall.

(3) Shortly after the entrance to Mill Lane on the left, take a footpath on the right. Follow the path along the left‐hand edge of a series of fields, then head to the right of a house. Cross the driveway and continue in the same direction as before. After crossing another driveway, head half-­right to cross a small stream, then climb the slope opposite. Beyond a kissing gate follow walk across the next field (parallel to the left‐hand edge) until you meet a green lane. Go straight across into the narrow hedged path back to the Royal Oak.(S/E)

One steep climb and a half-­‐mile section of road walking.