(S/E) From the front door, turn left and then left again down Burford Lane.
(1) After ¼ mile, beyond a pet hotel and opposite some large glasshouses, turn left along a footpath that runs between a fence and hedge before emerging into fields. Walk along the field edge, then cross two further fields to meet Oughtrington Lane to the left of a school sports field.
(2) Turn right past the school entrance and then left into Longbutt Lane. At the junction with Grammar School Road bear right down the no-through road. Cross two roads then at a further no-through road sign at the end of a third (Orchard Avenue) leave the descending road to take a metalled footpath on the left.
(3) Follow the path past a playing field then left into a road (Mayfield View). Turn right and, at the end of the road, take a footpath on the right that continues towards the tower of Lymm church.
(4) Cross the road in front of the church and turn right, passing a public toilet. Before reaching the dam, turn left through a gate into the grounds of Lymm Dam. Follow the path down to the lakeside, passing a sandstone outcrop on your left before dropping to follow a boardwalk at the water’s edge. At the end, climb some steps and keep on round the lake. Turn right at the sign for the Wishing Bridge and drop down to cross the bridge. On the other side, turn right and follow the lower footpath along the far bank of the lake.
(5) When you reach the main road by the dam, cross straight over through the “Village Centre” archway. Walk down some steps and follow the path beyond down the valley (The Dingle). At the end, turn right over the stream and walk up the main street to Lymm Cross.
(6) Bear left and cross the canal bridge, then turn right to join the towpath. Follow the canal out of Lymm and into open countryside, before passing under Lloyd Bridge on the edge of Oughtrington after just less than a mile.
(7) At Grantham’s Bridge, leave the towpath to cross the canal into the Woodland Trust property of Spud Wood. Beyond a kissing gate take the grassy path that leads straight on. This eventually leads out to an open field with a wood on the left and the spire of St Peter’s away to the right. Walk up the edge of the wood to meet a crossing footpath.
(8) Turn left and walk through the wood, passing a sandstone outcrop with a rock-cut shelter on your left. After emerging from the wood, turn right then left and follow the field edge to Burford Lane. Turn right and walk up the road for half a mile to return to the Jolly Thresher.(S/E)
