Chester

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