Accuracy of Magazine site / tour articles

You are correct Steve, the Shropshire Union canal is on the other side of the M53. You can access it by walking back to the main road, turning right for a 100yds or so till you meet Little Stanley Ln. This lane goes under the M53 to the canal. Like yourself, looking at the OS, it's a fair walk so we gave it a miss.  

Aside, we now go to an excellent CL in preference to the club site. Easy access of the Motorway with excellent views across Cheshire. It is also close to Frodsham. Spacious fully service pitches..https://www.thecheshirelookout.co.uk

This isn’t that unusual, unfortunately. Some articles about attractions have referred to sites that are closed, for example. The Club simply doesn’t do its homework. On a separate issue, but illustrating again  a lack of due dilligence, the club is applying for planning permission for a new site, the local villagers are up in arms and some of their criticisms refer to facilities the club says are present in the village that are not eg a shop.

For as long as I can recall, articles in the Club Magazine, (right back to the days of it being called Enroute), have often been inaccurate, particularly from a geographical, research point of view. Contributing journalists possibly have little real, practical knowledge of what they are providing, and give scant regard to accuracy. It’s debatable if anyone actually from the Club does any kind of proof reading, correction before it goes to print/publish. Hence the moral is to do your own research (as you clearly have) and not get any unwanted surprises. 

It always amused us that at one time, when the Club mentioned “nearest Club Site” Tredegar was given as the closest to Minehead. Fine if you could fly like a bird, otherwise you had the little matter of St George’s Channel to get around🤣

I never trust anything in a newspaper, magazine, Club Mag is no different. 

+1 to TDA as I too can recall some awful mistakes down the years. These 'trips' are all done from their desks.

Totally agree about your own research TDA, I almost never read the articles, in fact rarely look at the magazine but the OH likes it. 
In this case CS it looks as though the author stayed at the sites, it’s certainly written that way, given that I would have though the accuracy would have been better.

I think there is a lot of "distance optimism" both online and on the printed page. You see it all the time on Facebook groups. If I give a distance I usually measure it on Google Maps before committing to paper. Another issue is I wonder if a lot of the writers employed by the Club to write articles are relatively young, where as the readership tends to be towards the older age group. So what for some is a six miles fast walk/jog would be difficult for most at half the distance. Maybe what the Club need to provide for contributors is some guidelines pointing out that when suggesting walks etc they need to appreciate the walking abilities of the memberships will vary greatly.

David

I’ve certainly come across that in many site reviews. Phrases such as “an easy walk” are not that helpful. Especially when you know what they are referring to is far from easy, even for a younger person.

However in this case I think it’s just a total mix up. Perhaps the Author had some notes referring to the canal tow path into Chester and ended up with walk rather than bike ride. I am / was a fair walker but even in my youth 6 miles in an hour would have been a bit fast. Also it refers to a path from the site, which clearly isn’t the case and getting to the canal adds another mile and a bit.

We visit this site on a regular basis hoping to go back down there is a few weeks. The article is right that you can access the city via the canal we have done this many times but on the bikes it is walkable but my guess is it would take a while and the return journey would probably take it close to 10 miles so not a very accurate description. The site is good though one of our faves and is easy to get to and handy for places to visit with Liverpool a short drive away as well as North Wales 

Don’t disagree with that either DK. Terrain knowledge is important, that’s why a good old fashioned OS map, paper or digital is a valuable asset. We used to do a lot of the coastal walks around Cornwall when younger, and very fit. We could waltz up and down some serious inclines easily in those days, even at times scrambling in parts. I quake at the knees thinking about them nowadays.
Canal paths tend to be easy, but again sometimes not what you expect. I was going to do a stretch on bike of Kennet and Avon a few years ago, but it was more like a sheep track, very narrow and tufty grass. Without a doubt had I attempted it on bike I would have been in the canal🤣 It wasn’t that pleasant to walk.

I have just googled club site to central Chester, walking. Advice is one hour 51 minutes🤔 No idea what route used, but it usually comes up with quickest. 34 minutes by bike.

Professional journalist piece, writer usually associated with Farmers Guardian. 

You are more likely to get a better insight into Club tour reality by taking a look at some of the real life touring blogs out there, and cherry picking the good ones. My main issue with journalism like this is that I imagine someone using a mobility scooter, and thinking that Fairoaks to central Chester is a doddle (an hour!) and getting stuck. There has to be a larger dose of reality in these paid for articles.