Ellche three

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Ellche here.

This was a really easy and pleasant walk along the canal on a towpath which was generally in very good condition. I saw loads of moorhens and coots, and there was a bit of public art.
Starting from Ellesmere Port the first 20% had lots of signs of industry, and the first 40% had quite a lot of traffic noise from roads and motorways. Despite this, it felt like an oasis, and there was plenty of birdsong, even in January.
The area around Stoak was particularly picturesque. The pub here is currently closed and for sale, so I had taken packed lunch. There was a bench exactly halfway, by bridge 134 Caughall Bridge, which was a lovely peaceful spot to have a break. I was slightly disappointed not to hear any animal sounds from the zoo nearby!
After the railway viaduct I passed quite a large wetlands area. For me though, the most interesting part of the walk was heading into Chester, passing some fantastic canal architecture and heritage – the aqueduct over the A5480, Taylor’s Boatyard and all the history of the canal branch to the River Dee, and Northgate Staircase Locks. After passing beneath the railway, I walked up the three locks and could look down on passing trains.
A cobbled slope up from the canal brought me into the centre of Chester which really is a fantastic town to visit, with many gorgeous buildings and so much history.
Without the closeness of the motorways this would have been a 5* route.

A slight amendment to the original path.

This route is hopefully accessible to all, although narrow passages under bridges may exclude larger motorised wheelchairs. From Ellesmere Port to the housing estate on Cromwell Road, a good, wide pavement with ramps, but as it becomes an industrial estate there are no ramps, so cyclists and wheelchairs will have to keep to the road, a quiet cul de sac. At its end, we hit the canal. Muddy at first, but as we carry on it gets better. The towpath is a mixture of tarmac and concrete.

We avoid the village of Stoak on this route, carrying on along the canal.

Past Stoak, a mixture of tarmac, concrete, and loose stone. Some deep puddles in places, but nothing impassable. The gaps under the bridges are narrow and uneven in places.

Eventually we hit Chester. Up a slope to the wall, which we move through under an arch, and then through the bustling centre of the city to the old cross at its centre.

A great canal walk through some nice countryside, from a modern town to a historic city. Shops and transport are good at both ends.

Share your views about this route, give it a star rating, indicate whether it should be verified or not.

Include information that will be useful to others considering to walk or wheel it.

You can add up to 15 photos.