Chester
Cheshire
Slow Ways linking Chester and Buckley, Ellesmere Port, Helsby, Kelsall, Shotton, Tattenhall, Wrexham
Progress towards triple-checked route options for Chester’s seven Slow Ways: 54%
Help connect Chester
Many Slow Ways have several route options. Some will be better than others, or good for different reasons.
Our goal is for each Slow Way to have at least one route that is verified and surveyed. To be verified – and get its snail badge – a route needs at least three positive reviews.
Give a hike and help get a for every one of Chester’s Slow Ways.
Walk to Chester from further afield
Slow Way | Route | To do | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buckley—Chester
|
Bucche one |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 19km/11mi | Ascent 172m | Descent 303m | ||
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Chester—Helsby
|
Chehel one |
|
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 17km/11mi | Ascent 119m | Descent 114m | |
Chester—Kelsall
|
Chekel one |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 15km/10mi | Ascent 72m | Descent 124m | ||
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Chester—Kelsall
|
Chekel two |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 14km/9mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
Chester—Tattenhall
|
Chetat one |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 15km/9mi | Ascent 36m | Descent 47m | ||
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Ellesmere Port—Chester
|
Ellche one |
|
|
U U |
|
Double check | Distance 15km/9mi | Ascent 81m | Descent 72m | |
Ellesmere Port—Chester
|
Ellche two |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 15km/9mi | Ascent 96m | Descent 81m | ||
Ellesmere Port—Chester
|
Ellche three |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 14km/9mi | Ascent 89m | Descent 74m | ||
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Ellesmere Port—Chester
|
Ellche four |
|
U U |
|
Review me | Distance 15km/9mi | Ascent - | Descent - | ||
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Shotton—Chester
|
Shoche one |
|
2 X |
|
Enjoy me | Distance 12km/8mi | Ascent 149m | Descent 130m | ||
Wrexham—Chester
|
Wreche one |
|
U U |
|
Double check | Distance 21km/13mi | Ascent 172m | Descent 233m | ||
Wrexham—Chester
|
Wreche two |
|
U U |
|
Pioneer me | Distance 19km/12mi | Ascent - | Descent - |
Collective progress
48% of Chester’s routes are drawn, reviewed, surveyed and/or verified
12/12
9/12
1/12
1/12
9 people have contributed to Chester’s Slow Ways
1 people have pledged to walk and review a route
1 people have surveyed a route in Chester
137km out of 190km have been walked and reviewed
236km of reviews have been shared in Chester
Latest Updates
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
David Sanderson added Ellche four, a new walk from Ellesmere Port to Chester
Walk this routeIn 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
David Sanderson added Chekel two, a new walk from Chester to Kelsall
Walk this routeWe 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
Hiking Historian added Ellche three, a new walk from Ellesmere Port to Chester
Walk this routeHiking Historian added Ellche two, a new walk from Ellesmere Port to Chester
Walk this routeAs 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
Slow Ways added Chetat one, a new walk from Chester to Tattenhall
Walk this routeSlow Ways added Ellche one, a new walk from Ellesmere Port to Chester
Walk this route
Chester’s Slow Ways starting point
Grid ref
SJ4052966286
Lat / Lon
53.19034° / -2.89153°
Easting / Northing
340,529E / 366,286N
what3words
Facilities
Users have reported that the following facilities can be found within 1km of Chester's meeting point
Public toilet
Wheelchair accessible toilet
Supermarket or convenience shop
Restaurant, cafe or pub
Accommodation
Accommodation for under £50 a night
Campsite
Bothy
Free wifi
Mobility scooter hire
Off-road wheelchair hire
Disabled Parking
Train station
Bus stop
Ferry
Official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town
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