Church Minshull - Old Hoolegrave - Minshull Hill Farm - Eardswick Hall - Church Minshull

Derek Smith

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Save Our Footpaths: get off the beaten track, although most of this walk is along hard or well used paths, tracks or lanes, some footpaths are very little used. It is more figure-of-eight rather than circular and has a wide variety of interesting scenery. There is a good mixture of bridle-gates, stiles and wooden footbridges, most of them in good order, but a couple of stiles have quite a high drop.

The section through a most delightful wood has a very uneven path so you will need to be a little nimble. A walking-stick may also be handy in summer to fend off nosy cows, as in a couple of meadows you may find some. Although the route is not quite flat, there are no steep slopes; and this walk includes instructions for walkers from moored canal-boats.

The walk is probably suitable for well-behaved children, senior citizens and anyone in-between. Some stiles are not dog-friendly, and the route is hopeless for wheelchairs and buggies. Suitable footwear will be anything flat-soled, but boots will be best, especially in winter. There should be no problems for anyone wearing shorts.

There are toilets and refreshments at the pub at the start and finish of the walk, but none on your route. Neither are there any picnic tables, but you will find a bench seat by the canal towpath at the best viewpoint on the walk and another in the wood. If you book in advance, you should be able to get a good meal with a drink at the pub; an excellent finish to a good walk.

England - North England - Cheshire - Canal Walk