The present Delamere Forest circuit follows the boundaries of part of the
ancient Norman hunting forest of Mara and Mondrum. The present
circuit and the modern day Delamere Forest are within the
boundaries of the northern part of the forest i.e. Mara.
All towns and villages within the circuit were once townships
within the forest. These townships paid a tax called frithmote and
had the right of pannage.(grazing pigs on beech mast and
acorns.)
The modern day
circuit rolls through the undulating and beautiful Cheshire
countryside along the Mid-Cheshire sandstone ridge although at it's
northern edge, which borders the Mersey estuary at Frodsham and Helsby, it overlooks an oil
refinery at Stanlow and chemical works in Runcorn. The circuit then
meanders south through Kingsley and Norley, roughly
following each side of the long distance footpath
the Sandstone Trail, to the ancient and beautiful mediaeval
church at Bunbury.
Kelsall is within the southern part of the circuit and is linked with the two small churches of Ashton and Oakmere.
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