Sthlea one

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A short straightforward route connecting St Helens and Lea Green. Despite most of the route being accessible, the footpath into Sherdley Park renders it a foot-only route.

From St Helens Central station, we soon leave the town centre and head down the old canal. The towpath is tarmac, but we do have to use a ramp over an old railway line at one point. We're not on the canal long; the tarmac footpath climbs up onto higher ground, passing a statue. The path descends to a road crossing where we continue ahead over a footbridge (steps or a zigzag slope available both sides of the bridge). This leads us to a road crossing and a paved road through a retail park.

The retail park can be busy, but there's plenty of shops and places for refreshment. At the end, a road junction to the main road (at time of writing, the road near Grove's Dam had flooded, but still passable on foot; cars had trouble though!). Once over the crossings of the main road, after a short walk we head down our first proper footpath: a tarmac track alongside an industrial estate.

At its end, we join a couple of roads, before crossing and joining an earth and stone footpath that vanishes into the trees of Sherdley Park. It can be wet and muddy here in poor weather, but the path is clear. It breaks tree cover onto the broad tarmac paths of the park. A short uphill section brings us to a long straight section, passing gardens, depot and car parks.

Eventually we hit Elton Head Road, and it's a short walk to the station (although it's a bit if a mess at the moment with so many building works).

A good, although not totally stunning, walk between the two stations.

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