Pedalling the Patch

A perimeter preamble round Cheshire and North Wales … without moving?

View Across Dee Estuary from Wirral Way in Neston (Image: Archant)

I know that you all know what I mean when I say that, just sometimes, “Health & Safety” can put a spoke in your wheels…

We started our year with a request to raise money for Cancer Research as one of our colleagues in the region, and also friends, have been affected by that brutal disease. The overall consensus was to do something energetic – but, as we’d done the Three Peaks before, what else could we do? The idea was muted to do a cycle relay but the logistics, insurances and health & safety issues meant actually getting staff from our different offices out onto the main roads of Cheshire, Wales and Shropshire would be ill advised. But what if we could do it from the safety of our respective offices? A plan was hatched to hold a static cycle relay on the pavements next to our buildings, with the members of staff from Chester and Shrewsbury pedalling the 660-plus miles calculated to be the length of the perimeter of the patch covered by both our offices together.

Cycling in Snowdonia (Image: Archant)

The area we work in covers all things property in Cheshire, Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey. We sell and let houses, deal with farming and forestry issues, tackle planning and building surveying, advise on rights of way and the right course. These counties in which we are privileged to work are perfect for cycling enthusiasts – both professional and amateur. Cheshire seems to be a haven for road biking as is proven by the number of hardy souls out on the road at commuting time, and is blessed with residents such as Chris Boardman (who lives on the Wirral), Dave Brailsford (who studied for his degree in sports science and psychology at Chester College of Higher Education), Dame Sarah Storey who lives near Wilmslow and, until he sold his barn conversion last year, Sir Chris Hoy lived near Knutsford. North Wales has a reputation for some serious mountain biking - and is home to the world-class Atherton family - Rachel, Gee and Dan.

For us here in Chester, we will be “virtually” travelling round Cheshire and North Wales, all the way round Anglesey and back – a short 400 mile course! Theoretically, we will be cycling past some glorious landmarks, coastlines and countryside – places that we get to see on a weekly basis. In our imaginations, and through a mist of blood, sweat and tears, we will pass: round The Wirral maybe even seeing Liverpool on a clear day as we pedal past Port Sunlight; alongside the Dee Estuary; past Bodelwyddan Castle on our left and Kinmel Bay on our right, and then the expanse of the beach at Rhyl; go by the Great Orme and the magnificent Conwy Castle and then whip over the Menai Bridge onto Anglesey’s main land and turn right to Beaumaris Castle; we’d follow the glorious coastline, cliffs and beaches to the western most tip of our patch at the South Stack lighthouse and probably see one or two helicopters from RAF Valley buzzing overhead; back down the other side of Anglesey past Trearddur and Rhoscolyn, over the bridge and turn right past Caenarfon Castle, then pedal hard round the ‘Welsh Riviera’ through Abersoch and Pwllheli and on to the glories of historic Portmerion; by this time, we will have gone round three sides of the glorious Snowdonia National Park, and be heading for more castle sightings at both Criccieth and Harlech; on to Barmouth and then whizz along the bottom edge of Snowdonia National Park – just missing Bala Lake – and head for the Shropshire border near Oswestry; we’ll skirt round the lanes above Ellesmere, round the edge of Wrexham, up towards Malpas with its ancient church; then on past Tarporley, waving at Beeston and Peckforton Castles, through Nantwich, touch the gate posts at Arley – and then finally, still in peak condition, we’ll triumphantly return to reality in Chester!

Delamere Forest Walk (Image: Archant)

We have to thank Nuffield Health Centres, for helping us out with a key part of the arrangements - getting hold of suitable bikes for all the teams based in Chester and Shrewsbury. AND they are even letting Chester The Dog out for the day, to give us a supporting boost should we flag on the way to our goal!

Every work day our target is to do the best we can for our clients. On Friday 17th July, we’ll be focusing on doing the best we can for colleagues – and friends.

Donations have already started, and can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/StruttandParker-Midlands

Strutt & Parker, 37 Lower Bridge Street, Chester CH1 1RS 01244 354855

www.struttandparker.com