Turn Right At Liverpool And Keep Walking- Day 207 Alsager To Stoke On Trent 7 May 2026

A little easier to get to the start, train to Alsager and Uber to start point at Snapes Aqueduct.It’s a little chillier today so I need to walk briskly as the wind is biting and I didn’t bring a coat. There’s plenty of canals on this stage and they seem all to be going upwards, That will at least help with the warmth.

Also some pleasant converted lockkeepers houses to go with the upward climbs. I am not sure I would want to live so close to the canal.

The canal was clearly used and many cranes still stand by the old mils and pottery works along the waterside. The chief purpose of the canal was to allow the Five Towns to reach the market in the newly industrialising and wealthy North.

The waterway is maintained as can be seen by the dredging going on.

Just past here I crossed the southernmost point of the Cheshire Ring, where the Trent & Mersey meets the Macclesfield. The ring consists of a 97 mile route following 5 canals , Ashton, Peak Forest, Macclesfield, Trent & Mersey, Bridgewater and Rochdale Canals. I have probably walked most of that over the years. The concept of the ring only dates back to 1965 after post war commercial traffic had heavily declined. Out of a fear that the canals would become polluted ugly eyesores and to encourage leisure traffic the Peak Forest Canal Society and the Inland Waterways Association campaigned for restoration and by 1974 the route was once again open for navigation and previous high tolls abolished. What I didn’t know until just now was that the Rochdale and Bridgewater Canals had escaped Nationalisation by virtue of being owned by the Manchester Ship Canal Company.

It was now time to tackle Harecastle Tunnel. This was once one of the longest the longest canal tunnels in the UK at 1.6 miles long (now the Standedge Tunnel is, as well as being highest and deepest). It actually consists of two parallel tunnels built 50 years apart. The first by James Brindley starting in 1770 and the second constructed by Thomas Telford in the late 1820s. Only the Telford Tunnel is navigable now, as some of the former collapsed just before the start of the First World War.

Like Standedge the boats had to be legged through the Brindley tunnel by legmen, whilst the horses took Boathorse Road over the hill.However, the Telford Tunnel had a towpath. Inside the Telford are the remains of smaller canals which led directly to mines, allowing coal to be delivered without being hauled to the surface.

In the early 1970s the Telford tunnel had to be closed because of subsidence. During remedial works the towpath was removed to allow access to wider craft.

The tunnel operates by allowing boats to traverse in one direction at a time. Whilst they are in the tunnel an airtight door is closed at one end to let ventilating fans keep the air free of harmful diesel. Crossings now take around 30 minutes.

You”ll notice the water is very brown because of sediment. It can sometimes look like tomato soup.

It was a little longer for me as I had to climb over the hill. The route took me first past St Thomas’ Kidsgrove. This was built in 1837 by Mrs Kinnersley of nearby Clough Hall . She was the wife of Thomas (1782-1855) a coal master and banker. The Kinnersleys did much for the town of Kidsgrove, building the church and many schools. Clough Hall was their home and is now the site of a park and pleasure gardens, through which I passed. The Hall was demolished after falling into disuse after WW1. Part of the walk here was along a disused mineral railway. You can always tell by the straight wide thoroughfare.

They also have a ski slope.

The area here is prime birdwatching territory and also bedecked with a magnificent display of bluebells, which I somehow omitted to photograph… You’ll have to take my word for it. We also follow the main London line and several Avantis zoomed past as I progressed.

Finally, after much longer than 30 minutes I reached the other end of the tunnel, which allowed me time to sit down and recuperate.

There was supposed to be a boat due through as the tunnelman said it should arrive. After waiting a while it did not appear so I set off. This particular boat had been waiting at the other end when I set off, so I did see one that had passed through. Although he was speeding a bit.

I was now approaching the suburbs of Stoke. There was housing along the opposite bank, and many geese jealously guarding their young.

As well as abandoned and derelict mills and kilns.

Being a centre of the pottery trade, it needed a service station, which was supplied by a large chandlers yard.

Much of the pottery manufacture has gone now, so we are left with visitor and heritage centres to remind us we once did produce something.

The restoration continues and there is now a campaign to reopen the Burslem branch of the canal. This was a short 3/8 mile stretch to the town of Burslem. The plans look ambitious.

The humour of the canalside houses is actually quite good.

And suddenly I was in concrete canal country in the centre of Stoke.

10 miles today, 2070 in total and 63 on the canal. Map below, video here:

Turn Right At Liverpool And Keep Walking- Day 206 Middlewich To Alsager 30 April 2026

A train to Winsford and an Uber gets me back to my start point, over the Wardle Canal and the towpath follows the road for the first mile or so, passing the No. 6 Branch of the Winsford Industrial Cooperative Society which over time probably transferred engagements to Norwest thence United Norwest and now I presume the CWS. Having worked for most of my life in the Coop environment, I get fascinated by the incestuous ownership structures of the movement. When I started in the 1980s it had hands in every pie, now it just owns a few corner shops and undertakers (always very profitable).

Also spotted my first milepost. I will have to do Preston Brook one day, but I doubt I will get to the end at Shardlow as I plan on branching off further south.

Further along, Albion lock stated that it is near an erstwhile Roman Road, a scribbled sign next to the towpath stated that I can find more about it on Albionlockwherewelive blog, alas I could not find the blog. I assume it is the Via Devana which ran from Colchester to Chester, but I am happy to be contradicted. Anyway, here’s Albion Lock in its glory.

Sadly any references to this lock are drowned by proud mentions of its eponymous newbuild estate. Soon after I passed a tasteful mill conversion, which now is a very desirable residence (although I would never live near a canal – too many rats.

It being spring, blossom was out in full, Oh to be in England. Browning was right.

Indeed I was now in very peaceful countryside, having left the road, or the road leaving the canal, it being first there. Boats bobbed past very peacefully, perhaps noise shattered by the main rail line.

There is some civic pride along this canal. Apart from having better tended towpaths than its sister the Shropshire Union, each village announces itself, making it inviting to explore if time was not precious. Whelock is named for the river Wheelock, which winds a sinuous course of twelve miles into the Dane, and after the Weaver, which itself empties into the Ship Canal.

Another item often found along the canals is memorial gardens or in this case a bike, but sadly I could not find anything on the deceased, but RIP Daniel.

The Trent and Mersey employs quite a few Double or Paired Locks, designed to alleviate bottlenecks on the waterway. They also save water when used in conjunction.

Passing further down, there were many orchids growing by the water.

Sadly the increase in housing along the canal signified the approach of Alsager so the day ended on a main road waiting for an Uber to the station.

10 Miles covered today, total to date 2060, this canal jaunt, 53, Map below, video here:

Turn Right At Liverpool And Keep Walking- Day 205 Wardle To Middlewich (Middlewich Branch Canal) 23 April 2026

Another sunny day (well I do pick the weather forecasts, always have – it usually works). An early start to Chester from home, and the bus to the canal at Wardle

Because of the rivalry between the Shropshire and Trent and Mersey canals, no link was built until 1827 (and even then the two canals do not join – more of that later.

The reason for taking this junction is the lack of easily accessible public transport after Nantwich (that and the dangerously narrow overgrown towpath thus far). I figured it easier to go south to Stoke and beyond using the Trent and Mersey.

I walked a short distance along the Shropshire Union until I reached the bridge marking the junction of the Middlewich Branch, turning left and under rather than going over as I had previously.

This branch immediately felt more used, there were more boats and an wider path, perfect for the stroll ahead. Ahead lay Barbridge Marina. It is a little irking for the walker that the marinas with cafes and facilities are always on the opposite side to the towpath. I understand why, but I do have the longing to be able to sit in a canalside pub for lunch or coffee. Still this looked well appointed.

and even wildlife, I wonder if he is aware of his change of owner.

I have seen plenty of signs whilst canal walking for the Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust.Charles started out as an office boy and became rich in the West Riding Knitting trade. He owned a large mill, but never forgot his roots and set up the Trust with his wife. Accordingly you will see many such signs. The trust has helped with canal restoration. The hollow is on the site of the Cholmondeston Clay Pit, which was active from the 1960s to the 1980s. The clay was used for canal repairs.

On the opposite side of the canal from here a mile of 18″ gauge railway in 1888 was lain to experiment whether locomotives could haul boats. A Crewe works locomotive proved capable of hauling eight boats at 7 mph, but it was deemed impractical to do this in the long term and the scheme was abandoned.

To my left a grove of trees in the fields provided a perfect English view. No other country matches our landscape.

Dropping a whole 11 feet I passed the Church Minshull Lock with its lockkeepers house and approached the Vernon’s Bridge Moorings, through the trees I could (just about) see the River Weaver as I crossed the Weaver Acqueduct, whilst to my right someone was feeding a swan from their boat. I couldn’t manage to catch the bird with its beak inside the boat. But it was dear reader believe me.

A better view below:

Ahead was now green and peaceful.

This is farmland Cheshire, and to my left the farmer was busy clearing his field.

Along with Swans and Ducks, you can often see Heron on the towpath, guarding their territory until you approach, at which point they fly across to the other side.

Approaching Middlewich the number of canalside properties ballooned, and once more I was in Canal Suburbia, and I came to the Wardle Lock, and the Wardle Canal. The Trent and Mersey did not want the competition from the Shropshire Union, but finally relenting they allowed a link between the two canals to give the latter access to the Potteries. However, it came with a caveat. They could build their branch short of the Trent & Mersey, whilst they would build a short canal linking the two, The Wardle, and charge heavy tolls for boats to cross this canal. This dented the profitability of using the link and many solutions were sought for bypasses. These never got approved in Parliament. Tolls were eventually abolished in 1888.

However, the Wardle canal remains as the shortest in the UK at 47metres. At least that’s another canal competed in full, and in one day.

Ahead was the Trent and Mersey, that’s for another day.

10 miles today, 2,049 in total and 42 on this canal jaunt. Map below, video here:

Turn Right At Liverpool And Keep Walking- Day 204 – Hesketh Bank To Tarleton 26/03/2026

An Uber this morning to the start point. I have just discovered this as a means of transport (OK I am slow, but it does really make it easier to get to the awkward spots served by infrequent bus services).

The walk did start with a long trek to the river bank, I had forgotten about that bit. The distance from the road along farm tracks is around a mile but having conquered the infrequency of public transport I was just glad to be on my way.

It was also another beautiful cloud free sunny early spring day as I reached the river. Despite the water visible on the banks, the path being higher was dry.

Soon after the path passed through Douglas Marine Boatyard. There were workmen working on a path which will go alongside the yard, but for now you can walk through the yard. This is preferable to missing out on the large display of rivercraft in various states of repair, or decay. It is quite surprising how many there were.

The number of boats is not surprising given this areas strategic importance. At one point it was possible to cross the Ribble at low tide, although, like Morecambe Bay, it was a treacherous crossing and experienced guides could earn a (precarious) living. In 1844 James Blundell lost his live taking people across.

This route shortened the distance from Chester to Lancaster by some 28 miles, rather than going via Preston. As the crossing by foot became dangerous, a ferry service started.

As far back as 1563 Hesketh Bank had established a harbour, and activity increased with the Leeds and Liverpool Canal – securing a Northern customer base for Wigan coal. In the 19th century up to 400 ships a year used the port.

As Preston increased in importance, a port was built at Preston and the main channel dredged to the sea. This resulted in the Douglas getting deeper at high tide. Nowadays it has an 8metre tidal range at its mouth.

As the railways reached this area shipping started to decline, and in 1878 a station was built at Hesketh Bank. Southport merchants wanted to break the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway’s monopoly on trade and this boosted river trade once more. It also gave Southport its nearest port facility.

In 1878 a paddle steamer was launched from here, giving day trippers the opportunity to visit Lytham over the water, but the venture was not successful and the service was retired in 1885.

Eventually the railway reached Preston, giving a direct service between Southport and Preston, but this fell victim to the Beeching cuts.

The old bridge can be seen above and in the pictures below.

I did know about that railway line, but I wasn’t aware of the Tarleton Branch Line. This ran alongside the river from Hesketh Bank station to Tarleton Halt, with one intermediate stop. The aim of the link was to take cargoes from the Leeds Liverpool Canal, to Hesketh Bank, and thence to Southport. It was not a greatly successful venture, opening to passengers on 3 June 1912 and closing on 3 October 1913, although the goods service limped on until 1930.

The large deposits of clay in this area proved a boon for Brickmaking and in 1878 along with the railway, a brickworks started here. Being at Hesketh Bank it was naturally called The Ainsdale and Skelmersdale Brock Company. Originally owned by the West Lancashire Railway, it soon came under the control of one Henry Alty, a young man from Rufford who was only 21.

Henry was an excellent businessman and supplied nearby towns with bricks to build the houses that were springing up. He also found markets on the Fylde and further north. The company continued to thrive under family ownership until 1970, and still exists today as a builder’s merchant.

I could now see the entrance to the Rufford branch of the Canal ahead of me.

I also knew that this would be the end of the walk. You can walk on up the canal, but I decided to respect the signs saying no access. I do fail to understand why a short stretch of a few hundred yards has not been added to the path, but hey ho. It remains a barrier.

After that it was a matter of negotiating roads to the Preston Road whence I could catch a bus home. I did however get a chance for a closer look at St Mary’s Church. The site dates back to 1525 and the current chapel, 1719. However the church closed in 1824 when a church was established in the centre of Tarleton. Unfortunately it is only opened up rarely.

A short stroll today, 5 miles bringing me to a total of 2,039 miles, 1,053 of coast and 161 of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Map below, video here:

Turn Right At Liverpool And Keep Walking- Day 203 – Crossens To Hesketh Bank 19/03/2026

Needing to get back on my coastal walks, but not still having the motivation to get to Suffolk yet, I decided to raise the the challenge of a friend telling me that the entire coastal path was now open. A fact I know not to be true, but I did consider they may have improved the stretch from Southport to Preston, which I covered back in February 2016 (eeek I realise I have been at this a while). That time, the signposting was not great, and I suspect the path was not even open along the river.

This meant that I wandered across the fenland and the meanygates to Much Hoole from what I now know is Crossens. The stretch that I wanted to tackle was the part following the Ribble and the Douglas, I had an idea it was at least partially open (although a polite email to Hesketh Bank parish council on access to the path remains unanswered, even though they show it on their town plan).

It’s also easy to get to on the bus, so an X2 to Crossens landed me at the start of my walk and a large boulder.

This particular rock started its journey 18,000 years ago in Dumfries, and was transported in the glacier flows over the following 6000 years when it ended up at the Lancashire seaside (although possibly given the receding tide at Southport it was in the middle of the Irish Sea.

My hunch as to the existence of a path was rewarded as the route proudly carried England’s Coastal Path signposts directing me towards the river, along an irrigation channel.

It was nice easy going along the route with houses to my left and farmland to my right.The weather was also nice and warm which made progress very pleasant.

After around a mile the path turned to the right and the salt marshes of the Ribble came into view. I learned today that the Ribble has a tidal bore (of course the most famous being that on the Severn), Nevertheless it is one of only 100 rivers in the world that have the phenomenon and one fifth of them are in the UK. It isi’t as impressive as its southern cousin, but still I am going to find out when it can be seen.

The Ribble also has the third highest tide in England and the estuary forms a special protection area because of the wildlife and birds who come here.

In the far distance I could see Blackpool Tower and the windmill at St Anne’s, although this picture does not do it full justice.

You could see that the route to the river would be very treacherous here, there are many water channels and I guess lots of mud to sink in.

The route itself was reasonably quiet, there was the odd dog walker, and very uncommunicative bird watchers. Apart from that I only passed a few itinerant workers in the fields.

I was enchanted by the wilderness of the estuary as I approached Hesketh Bank and the early spring sunshine made for a peaceful walk and striking blue skies. BAE Warton could now be seen on the far side of the river.

My ambition though was to be able to see the meeting of the Rivers Douglas (or Asland as it is known here) and Ribble. Although you cannot get to the confluence, it is visible as you reach the Douglas.

This was the point where vessels could travel to the sea from the Leeds Liverpool Canal, or go upstream to Preston. The river no longer carries commercial traffic, but Preston Marina has a large leisure boat facility.It was now upstream to see how far I could get.

Not too far this time.I decided that to try for the canal would not be wise this time, as I was unsure of access past this point, so I made a pause at Hesketh Bank for now.

That’s 9 miles today, 2,034 in total, 1,048 along the coast and 156 of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Map below and video here.

Turn Right At Liverpool And Keep Walking- Day 202 – Wilfred Owen & Birkenhead 18/02/2026

Having studied Wilfred Owen for A Level English at school, I did very much admire his poetry, but new little of his life before the War. I vaguely knew he was born in Shropshire, and do remember passing the hotel where he recovered in Scarborough. However it was not until recently whilst idly googling I discovered he spent much of his early life in Birkenhead.

The rain having muddied canal and river paths the warm weather still evading us, I decided to plan a few city walks, as I have been lazy on doing all the stuff I did think to do when I moved to Liverpool.

He spent his early days in Shropshire, but moved to Birkenhead when his grandfather died and lived there between 1898 and 1907 whilst his father worked for the railways.

Alighting at the magnificent Hamilton Square, which is the largest Grade 1 listed Georgian Square outside London. It was originally planned to be part of a civic renewal for the town, but sadly as is often the case, only the square itself was built.

My first port of call was the statue dedicated to the 88 members of Birkenhead Institute including Owen who died in the War. The statue is of Owen and his poem Futility is engraved below.

After that I headed towards Birkenhead Priory, the oldest structure in Merseyside, having been founded in 1150, however, as it was closed I couldn’t get any pictures.

I haven’t really visited Birkenhead before. I did walk alongside the river when I was still doing my coastal journey (not totally abandoned) and have been to Hamilton Square. I even saw The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown in concert there a couple of years ago. I had been warned that it was run down, but I was not prepared for how run down the place was (and last year we walked through the collapsing streets of Blackpool)

He lived on Elm Grove during his early years, and there is a Blue Plaque (technically an open plaque as Blue Plaques are now only for London, typical metrocentrism) to commemorate that at his old house.

After that I proceeded to the town library where you can find a small exhibition relating his life and a stunning stained glass window alongside the memorial that was in the Birkenhead Institute

Also inside there is a poster, which is sort of Mr Kite-ish. Its not quite there, but in an alternate universe we could have had Being For The Benefit Of Birkenhead. I suppose John being a posh boy didn’t cross the water often.

It was then on to Birkenhead Park, opened in 1847, which claims to be the oldest public park in England, and was the inspiration for Central Park in New York. However, I always thought that Peel Park and Philips Park in Salford and Manchester were older, and indeed they were opened on 22 August 1846. I can’t find anything to definitively state things either way.

The park was designed by Sir Joseph Paxton. Sir Joseph also can claim fame for the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and also for the Cavendish Banana, which is the most widely consumed variety in the world. It was so named as it was first grown here by the Duke Of Devonshire at Chatsworth House.

Liverpool is well served for excellent parks (beyond Heaton Park the Manchester Parks and Gardens department appears to have given up the ghost, leaving Platt Fields, Fog Lane and Ladybarn Parks a shadow of their former selves. On first impression Birkenhead Park appeared to come from the noble tradition of Liverpool Parks,

However once I got into the centre, and the lake, the bridges were all fenced off as being unsafe to cross. Not a good look, and overall I was disappointed, given the high standard elsewhere on Merseyside.

On the way back there was rather a nice piece of street art.

And that was it, 5 miles today, 2025 to date. Map below, video here:

Turn Right At Liverpool And Keep Walking- Day 201 – Shropshire Union Canal Tarporley To Nantwich 23 September 2025

We are still having lovely days and relatively dry – although in the past fortnight that has come to an end. Again I catch the first train out of Ainsdale towards Chester, and then a bus to Tarporley, arriving at my start point just after 09:00. It is still a walk of the mile though to the canal, but the outlook is good

There are plenty of boats on the water today, and at the second lock a couple are struggling to open a lock gate. I offer to help, and for the first time ever participate in the opening of the gates. I am offered a glass of red for my efforts, politely refuse and carry on my way.

The sun is burning the dew off the canal, and gives an autumn mellow mistiness feel to the day. The path is a little muddy and the trees a little low, but nothing serious for the moment to impede progress. There is even a slightly better view of Beeston castle.

There’s a lot of people on boats today – I soon realise they are taking day trips from Nantwich, my destination, and a few more locks. This stretch is on a gentle incline.

The trees are starting to lose their leaves, but not being completely naked the remaining foilage is basking in what is left of the sunshine.

Having never opened a lock before now (and I have walked the Leeds Liverpool, stretches of the Marple canal and the Thames, I am invited to give some aid to another group of boaters, which I happily do, and promptly fall over having opened the gates.

I have been wittering about the overgrowth. After this, before the junction with the Llangollen canal it got very tricky to navigate. Low branches and heavily overgrown bushes had forced their way onto the canal path, and as the going got muddy it became very slow going to move forwards. I had to crouch low a few times and be very careful that I didn’t slip in the mud.

I did make a point of noting this to the Canals and Rivers trust, and am reluctant to carry on with the canal now we have had a lot of rain (river banks near me are sodden enough). The next stage may then not until next spring.

Thankfully, it did clear up after this, as I was approaching Nantwich, first I passed the Middlewich Branch – which links to the Trent and Mersey Canal via the Wardle Canal – the shortest in Britain, a mere 154 feet long.

The going was much easier and the day was brightening up and I walked alongside the Hurleston reservoir which is fed by the River Dee at Horseshoe fall via the Llangollen Canal to top up the Shropshire Union Canal and keep the people of Crewe and Nantwich in drinking water.

I even managed to catch a heron taking off.

It wasn’t long until I reached the next junction – with the Llangollen canal.

and more wildlife

Then it was the end of this stage at Nantwich, I walked another mile or so into the centre to catch a train, which was infrequent, so wandered further to a bus stop to catch the bus back to Chester, which promptly took a route back to my end point.

I did however, spot one last piece of wildlife on my bus back to Chester.

11 miles today, 2020 in total, 32 on canal map below, video here:

Turn Right At Liverpool And Keep Walking- Day 200 – Shropshire Union Canal Chester To Tarporley

Having got the bug once more, I set out on the following day (and being weekend, travel is free even on the train!) Funny thing, before I moved to this part of the woods, I hardly ever visited Chester, which has a lot going for it, but today I am not going to be doing the touristy things, but walking the canal.

I have often walked over the bridge on the way into the city, but never walked the canal. To tell the truth, before I planned this, I wasn’t even aware that this was the Shropshire Union.

Chester Station is a grade II listed building. It was built in 1848 and designed by Francis Thompson. Thompson worked with Robert Stephenson as his architect. He is responsible for the Menai Bridge as well as Conwy and Cambridge station amongst others. He spend a brief time in Canada and the US before returning to Hastings and retiring. He died in 1895 in Suffolk.

The station at Chester was the first of two competing stations across the road from each other. Although they were linked by rail, the link was not used and even Royal Mail had to be carried across the road.

The station was built by Thomas Brassey (1805-1870). Brassey was a prolific railway builder. By 1847 he had built 1/3 of the railways in Britain and when he died, he was responsible for one in every 20 miles of railway in the world.

Brassey is commemorated by a statue outside the station.

I soon joined the canal (not at the point of last departure, that will have to wait until the towpath is repaired). The area has been gentrified, and provides a peaceful change from the hustle of town, surrounded by converted warehouses.

There’s also a spitfire, which was apparently made for the Chester Raft Race this year

After a couple of miles the scenery changed to semi rural, with locks, willow trees and a lockkeepers house.

This part of canal was busier than the first stretch (I guess a big chunk of water missing does impede progress up and down the waterway) I passed a boat with some unique stained glass (they were selling it as well)

The overhanging vegetation here was charming, however further along it started to get obstructive and was to make some progress quite difficult.

You do not expect to see classic cars on the canal, but I suppose it is not unusual to see them by the canal, in a pub car park. However, given that this is rich Leafy Cheshire, the houses are big as well so they can afford to upkeep these vehicles.

My first house, in Shireoak Road, Withington, had poplar trees at the back. Their height sticks in my memory and it always makes me happy to see these

Stopping for my first rest, I watched a man fish whilst I enjoyed the view of the poplars.

There were many more boats here, even the odd one chugging towards Chester (I realise I walk faster than a barge, so few get seen chugging the other way)

Whilst I enjoyed the Leeds Liverpool, I have in the past shied away from walking canals but this one, is a joy to walk, it does feel like a chunk of lost England brought to life, with the brick built bridges.

and of course the English eccentricity.

By now I was approaching the end of the day’s walk, and on a hill in the distance I could see Beeston Castle.

It was built in the 1220s by the 6th Earl of Chester on his return from the Crusades. The castle was kept in good repair until Cromwell’s time, when it was partly demolished to keep it from becoming once more a bastion.

This part of the walk was tricky with thick overhanging bushes and trees, I had to stoop to get through much of the path for a mile or so and it made uncomfortable progress. The land on the other side was much more inviting and charming, compared to this jungle. And the fruit looked good.

Finally the path cleared, I could tell I was approaching a well trod area, and my stopping point. They seem to have just cleared the paths near where afternoon strollers walk.

A final lock before the end of the day, at Wharton’s.

However, that was not the end of the walk, It was a further mile up the road towards Tarporley to get to the bus stop (again free, pensioner pass.

A further 12 miles today, 21 on canal to date and 2,009 in total. Map below, video here:

Turn Right At Liverpool And Keep Walking- Day 199 – Shropshire Union Canal Ellesmere Port To Moston Barracks

Another hiatus. More excuses, it’s been too hot (well enjoying the summer at the seaside) Daughter 2 married, daughter 1 has baby (mega cute and handsome). Holidays. Ripped off toenail so out of action for a while. I did the latter by rushing for a kipper sandwich at Bamburgh and catching my toe against a rock, removing the nail in one swoop. Painful.

I also had a few aborted attempts at discovering a way between the River Douglas and the sea. It says at Tarleton that the King Charles III path. Unfortunately a village map does not a right of way make and I cannot fathom a way through. I’ll leave that for them to open it.

An early rise and off by train to Ellesmere Port, and having to pay! Well I am a pensioner and normally wait until there is free rail travel in town. I can’t say a second visit to Ellesmere Port appealed any more than my first, whilst walking the Ship Canal and Irwell. There’s also some history on my Halls Blog. However, the Waterways museum is worth a visit, and that was where I started,

What became the Shropshire Union Canal was originally planned as the Ellesmere Canal, which would join the River Severn to The Mersey. However, it was never completed and now forms The Chester Canal, The Montgomery Canal and Shropshire Union, with a few lesser waterways.

© By I Stockdale – Scan of original map of 1795, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6823888

Ellesmere Port was originally called Netherpool, but as the town of Ellesmere was to get an outlet to the sea it was renamed thus. It was first proposed at Ellesmere in 1791, and two years later an Act of Parliament was passed permitting its construction. After much redesign and headache, it was finally finished in 1796.

The first thing I noticed was the design of the bridges. On the Leeds Liverpool they are mainly stone, here brick is the main construction material, and lend a more gentle impression to the waterway.

There are of course some abandoned railway bridges built later on.

As would be expected the first part of the walk was largely industrial and abandoned in many places.

A little further along was a memorial to Ellia Arathoon who was brutally murdered in 2018.

I gradually left the conurbation of Ellesmere Port and passed the Cheshire Oaks Shopping centre. The early part of the canal closely follows major roads and motorways, so I was accompanied for a long time by the constant hum of traffic, but the scenery was changing and here it was semi rural, even if the path was still tarmacademed.

There were even some boats moored up, but none seemed to be travelling. I was soon to discover the reason for that, but I will leave that until later.

I was even pleased to see one from my old stomping ground of Poynton and Lord Vernon’s Wharf as well as one in not so good a condition.

The birdlife on the canal on this stretch was predominantly moorhens (who scuttled away to hide every time I got my camera out, but there was the occasional Mallard and Swan to be seen.

Of course there was the odd cow, this one deciding to take a drink.

Just after I took this picture, the animal was entertained by a bull who had been lurking behind. I wasn’t quick enough to capture this, and it would only upset your sensibilities.

The next leg was largely uneventful until I passed a barrier across the towpath. Now it had been cast aside, and a couple of hundred yards further along there was another , also cast aside. Therefore I determined I could continue as there was no obvious obstruction ahead.

To my left was a military barracks and training field so there was no diversion available that way.

I was nearing Chester as the Mollington Viaduct was ahead, built in 1839 by George Washington for the Birkenhead and Chester railway, and still in use today by Merseyrail (you have to be quick to spot it if you are on the train, as it is hidden away.

Alas, not for long my drowsy ease. Ahead was a further barrier, this time better built, but with a removable fence across it. I passed that and to my right the canal had been drained. Sadly, ahead men were working on repairing a breach in the canal, so it was apparent that there was no way through. I turned around and discussed with a cyclist behind me whether we could take a diversion through the trees to our right – there was some semblance of a path. However, it petered away quickly into dense brush and was impassable.

No choice but to retrace steps, and a very long walk back to the first barriers and then along the road to a bus stop, where of course no bus turned up, so an Uber back to Chester. That final bit will have to wait until the path is repaired.

9 miles today, 1999 in total, and my first 9 of this canal (and diversion). Map below, video here:

Turn Right At Liverpool And Keep Walking- Day 198 – Rufford Branch 24 April 2025

Today it’s tying up the loose end of the Rufford Branch of the canal. The stretch is 7 ¼ miles longand has a total of 8 locks. It’s also known as the Douglas Navigation as it follows the river in part. It was built between 1770 and 1781 and was primarily used for transporting coal from the West Riding and Lancashire. It joins up with the River Douglas in Tarleton and from there there is access to the sea via the Ribble Estuary and Preston upstream.

Catching the train to Burscough it was a short walk through the town to join the main canal and a little further on to reach the top lock at Junction Bridge.

The canal was very quiet and I met few people (it was also very early, having arrived here around 7:30 am). The going was also very easy, it being of necessity mainly downhill and I was passing bridges and locks with ease as the canal slowly descended to the river.

It was a return to a flat landscape, and I could see for miles in both directions, in fact I probably saw more swans than people.

The peace and quiet gave for an idyllic time on the water.

The first port of call was Rufford, a few miles down the water. Rufford’s main claim to fame is Rufford Old Hall , once owned by the Hesketh family, and Shakespeare is said to have performed there during his time up North. It also boasts a fairly impressive marina (which does house a very nice cafe, albeit I was too early to partake)

The Hall stands on the canalside as you leave Rufford, unfortunately it was largely obscured by trees, so this is all I could get.

All too soon Iwas approaching the main Preston to Southport Road. However, this stretch followed the river now until the two waterways join.

Sadly at this point the towpath disappeared, according to the map in Tarleton there is a path along the canalside almost to the Ribble, but I think it is still in the planning stage (it will form part of the Charles III Coastal Path). The route after the bridge was partly along the river (I have walked this route when I was negotiating the Ribble to get over the river at Preston on my first Coastal trek) but soon after I had to revert to following the road and could not get to see the final lock which joins the Canal to the River Douglas.

That’s for a few years in the future

Anyway 10 miles today, 1,988 in total and 153 canal. Map below, video here: