(S/E) From the front door of the Crown, cross over and follow the tarmac path to the right of St Winefride’s Catholic Church. Walk down the side of a football pitch then follow the path to the right between pitches beyond a litter bin. Follow the path through a play area and exit the park into Maltmans Road.
(1) At the end of the road, opposite the United Reformed Church, turn left, cross the canal, then turn right into Whitbarrow Road. After 150 yards, turn right onto the towpath and follow it to the right to pass under the bridge you crossed earlier. After 450 yards, turn right onto a narrow signposted path between gardens. Cross Statham Avenue and follow the path opposite. Cross the Trans-Pennine Trail (here following a disused railway) and again follow the path opposite.
(2) On reaching Albany Road, turn left past a parade of shops and then right into Whitesands Road. Pass The Farthings on the right, and follow Whitesands Road round to the left. Fifty yards beyond the bend, turn right down another narrow path between houses. Cross and turn left along Whitbarrow Road.
(3) After 140 yards, turn right down another narrow path blocked by a bollard. After a gate, pass between fishing lakes and cross a broad ditch, beyond which the path bends left by another overgrown pool. Follow the winding path through trees until it emerges in the corner of the field, where you bear right and follow the field edge to a gate into a track. Turn left then immediately right, into a hedged green lane that leads to the Ship Canal. A permitted bridleway follows the canal and passes under the two Thelwall Viaducts.
(4) Continue in a similar vein along the canal, passing through a waymarked gate, and then a further gate a little way on. Follow the path as it leaves the canalside and climbs slightly before returning close to the water’s edge. At a junction of hedged paths, turn left, leaving the Ship Canal firmly behind you, and shortly cross Thelwall Brook. Below Laskey Farm, ignore the bridleway on your left, instead of bearing right to meet a footpath by a wall. Go through the gate on your left and cross a paddock, emerging in Laskey Lane opposite a white-painted cottage; turn right and walk out to the road.
(5) Turn left for 150 yards, passing a half-timbered cottage and brick-built stable, then turn left into a driveway with a footpath sign. Before reaching business premises, the path bears right through a garden to the right of a line of laurels. When you emerge in front of a paddock and barn, bear right then left through a gate. The official line of the path continues straight on across a garden, but the occupiers would probably prefer you to turn right out to the road.
(6) Turn right and pass a thatched cottage to reach the A56. Cross and follow the pavement to the left, passing Camsley Grange Farm, until you reach the M6 overbridge. Follow the Trans-Pennine Trail (on your right) under the motorway, then drop left under the A56. Leave the Trail at the next footbridge and cross the bridge; the path winds in front of some cottages and then out to the Bridgewater Canal.
(7) Turn left and follow the towpath for 300 yards until you pass over an aqueduct. 32 Beyond the aqueduct, double back down a track to Barsbank Lane, and then left under the canal. Walk up Barsbank Lane to the A56, then turn left to return to the Crown.(S/E)
