This 19km route took me ~5.25hrs to walk in the Chester -> Buckley direction. Food/toilet options are available in Chester, Sandycroft, Hawarden and Buckley. When coming off River Ln in Saltney and joining the walking/cycling path, the blue cycle route sign says 'Chester' even though you are travelling away from it! Unlike Chester golf course, there is nothing but a bit of string between you and the greens, so keep aware of any low-flying golf balls. If you are travelling from Buckley towards Chester, I will mention that some of the entrances to the route are less obvious at the Buckley end. Finally, at the horse farm in Hawarden, the path towards the golf course and the A550 is well back from the green sign (photo 12). Wouldn't recommend it if it's been raining much beforehand (some of the paths at the back of the Chester golf course were sodden and moss-covered in the shade, and this was during a dry spell), though....

geopenny

Food/toilet options are available in Chester, Sandycroft, Hawarden and Buckley. The section through the Chester racecourse is sometimes shut for events, and accessing the start of the path around Chester golf course requires climbing two large flights of stairs (photo 1). Unlike Chester golf course, there is nothing but a bit of string between you and the greens, so keep aware of any low-flying golf balls. If you are not a fan of cows, your best option is to stay on Glynne Way (which becomes the Highway) in Hawarden, then go left onto Wood Ln which takes you up and over the A55, becoming Burntwood Rd and bringing you onto Drury Ln just down from the path towards Knowle Hill park (photo 13). The route from Drury to Buckley through Knowle Hill is very straightforward, as long as you can negotiate kissing gates. If you are travelling from Buckley towards Chester, I will mention that some of the entrances to the route are less obvious at the Buckley end. Finally, at the horse farm in Hawarden, the path towards the golf course and the A550 is well back from the green sign (photo 8). Wouldn't recommend it if it's been raining much beforehand (some of the paths at the back of the Chester golf course were sodden and moss-covered in the shade, and this was during a dry spell), though!...

geopenny

Almost fully accessible route for all (as ever, the steps at Shotton station are a problem for wheeled users), mostly along the wide tarmacced path that runs along the embankment aside the Dee, with only one road crossing along the way until we hit Chester. It is well-used by both walkers and cyclists alike, and there is the odd bench along the way to stop for breaks. It moves from industrial Shotton into the countryside, before once more returning to the industrial and urban areas of Chester....

Hiking Historian

Into Little Barrow, yet another short stretch of unpaved road, albeit with wide verges, before crossing more fields. Another stretch of quiet unpaved road follows, before using footpaths through fields of cattle to Dunham-on-the-Hill....

Hiking Historian

The route started well from Chester and soon got me via an accessible route on to the Shropshire Union Canal. Ellche Three then follows the canal all the way to Ellesmere Port and this was the route I was following to start with but reached a "towpath closed" sign just north of Chester Zoo. A lack of places to stop is a serious problem for this route, the only one I encountered was a cafe at the Harley Davidson showroom as you reach the outskirts of Ellesmere Port....

David Sanderson

In agreement with the other two reviewers that the footpath from Stoak does not connect with the towpath. This route should not be used...

David Sanderson

The path out of Kelsall starts well, but as the walk progresses, was terribly overgrown, but passable, in places. Beyond Tarvin, and its supermarket the walk improved greatly....

David Sanderson

We walked it from Chester to Shotton, and - although very practical and a good candidate for the Slow Ways network - it would probably be more interesting to cycle this route as at a walking pace the view gets very monotonous. Additionally, and though not presenting many issues when following the route, its plotting through Chester is more as the crow flies from point to point than following actual paths....

Team Tato

As Paul says in his review, the Stoak dogleg, as it exists, is not doable due to the footpath over the canal from Stoak does not connect to the towpath due to hedges and barbed wire. The Chester exit from the canal also needs a tidy, something I'll do in an updated route....

Hiking Historian

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. The towpath is a mixture of tarmac and concrete. Once back on the canal, a mixture of tarmac, concrete, and loose stone....

Hiking Historian

This route is hopefully accessible to all, although narrow passages under bridges may exclude larger motorised wheelchairs. Past Stoak, a mixture of tarmac, concrete, and loose stone....

Hiking Historian

Barrier-free access is only possible from Sealand Rd, Bumpers Ln, Hawarden Bridge train station (must use level crossing and manual gates) or via the Millennium Greenway. (-> Chester direction only) and Jubilee Bridge/B5441 (-> Chester only; -> Shotton has a slanted gate just beyond the slalem)....

geopenny

Mickle Trafford to Plemstall Church: quiet roads, some with pavements. Primrose Lane to Helsby: pavements, initially on quiet roads then alongside the very busy Chester Road....

walker99

The route was walked from Chester (The Cross) to the Helsby (row of shops on the Chester Road including Post Office) on Friday 18.06.2021 (late morning/ afternoon) – joined by two friends for the whole route. At Mickle Trafford there is the option of resting and taking refreshments at Meadow Lee Farm Coffee Shop on Station Lane. This includes a short section along the B5132 from Wildmoor Lane to Rose Farm which has no pavement and requires crossing a narrow road bridge. It was felt that the section between Chester and Mickle Trafford is accessible to most users being city streets then purpose-built greenway with no obvious barriers. In the row of shops that mark the end of the current Slow Way on Chester Road (Helsby) there was a café (The Old Bank Tea Rooms) which although closing, once they realised that we had walked from Chester, very kindly kept open and provided hot drinks and cakes. The walk along the Chester Road (A56) in Helsby felt unpleasant and a possible alternative could be to follow Robin Hood Lane northwards from Latham Avenue to emerge at the Chester Road closer the row of shops/ Post Office and tea rooms....

Peregrinating Paul

The route was walked from Chester (The Cross) to Ellesmere Port (Railway Station) on Tuesday 18.05.2021 (afternoon) – joined by friend (and dog) after Bridge no. Much of the route is level since it follows the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal between Northgate Locks (Chester) to Bridge no. The surface of the towpath varies and is generally smooth between Chester’s Canal Basin to Knolls Bridge. From Knolls Bridge to Caughall Bridge it has recently been resurfaced and has much loose gravel-sized chippings, but these appear to be consolidating with use. From Caughall Bridge the towpath has many broken surfaces and consequently is rather uneven in places. Notably, the first seat after Chester’s Canal Basin was at Caughall Bridge and then a couple of benches alongside the towpath at Stoak (near Bridge no. 136). At Ellesmere Port Station there are two options to cross the railway line – a shorter route via a steep and stepped footbridge from Whitby Road or a slightly longer route via the roadside pavement on the A5032 road bridge....

Peregrinating Paul

This offers reasonable wheelchair access (fairly flat, but bumpy in places, hard surface) at least until Egg Bridge, Waverton. In very dry weather this could allow wheelchair access - at least until the route moves away from the towpath at Nixon's bridge....

Alan Pimm

Enjoyed walking from Chester, thru golf course to pick up Dee path on the other bank of river to main path. Short road section ( by GoOutdoors) but lovely wander and path. Only walked to first bridge at Garden city before crossing river and walking back in to chester - total 7 miles....

ElaineT

Most importantly, I would urge using Wrexham Road with its safe, wide pavements instead of deviating via Rake Lane which has fast moving traffic and no footway making it a much less safe and accessible walk....

Jammyscone