Walks you can reach from Runcorn East by train

Ellesmere Port Station to Frodsham Station (Cheshire)

4m direct from Runcorn East.

A foot-only rural route: a well-paved towpath along the Shropshire Union Canal as far as Stoak, then a lengthy section of open country walking across marshes grazed by sheep and cattle, paved roads through Thornton-le-Moors, a track out across Frodsham Marsh into Frodsham. A good open rural route and only somewhat marred by heavy industry at the edge.

18km. Gentle ascents.

Marsh terrain and livestock make it foot-only.

Frodsham is full of good pubs and historic buildings; shops at both town ends.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Helsby Station to Frodsham Station (Cheshire)

4m direct from Runcorn East.

A rural mix of quiet roads, field tracks, meadows and a path through Castle Park and with an uphill climb out of Helsby and a lengthy mostly-unpaved road walk. A track along a brook (tarmac with soil and mud in places) leads to the main road; narrow hedged footpaths between meadows. Steps and stiles.

Easy: 5km, moderate ascents.

Field-path gates and kissing gates make it a foot-only route. One section of road walking, though well used with good sight lines.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Frodsham Station to Warrington Central Station (Cheshire)

4m direct from Runcorn East.

An alternative that stays on the Bridgewater Canal all the way to Stockton Heath before entering Warrington and making a very nice canal walk between the urban areas.

18km.

Lunch: A pub at Moore on the canal.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Frodsham Station to Cuddington Station (Cheshire)

4m direct from Runcorn East.

Tough: steep ascents. 13km.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Ellesmere Port Station to Helsby Station (Cheshire)

9m direct from Runcorn East.

A foot-only route, first along a well-paved towpath on the Shropshire Union Canal as far as Stoak, then a lengthy section of country walking across the marshes with sheep and cows, before an unpaved stretch and a track out across Frodsham Marsh. A good open rural route and only somewhat marred by heavy industry at the edge. Begins on the Shropshire Union Canal towpath; crosses Frodsham Marsh.

16km. Gentle ascents.

A stretch alongside a busy road from Thornton-le-Moors. A foot-only route due to the marsh terrain.

Plenty of good pubs in Frodsham.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Helsby Station to Cuddington Station (Cheshire)

9m direct from Runcorn East.

Tough: steep ascents. 16km.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

St Helens Central Station to Newton-le-Willows Station (Lancashire)

15m direct from Runcorn East.

A superb, mostly off-road walk along the historic St Helens/Sankey Canal towpath (tarmac or metalled earth) through peaceful countryside and with the canal a string of pools and reedbeds. Largely accessible to wheels and cycles with some width restrictions and sometimes stony or muddy surfaces; one steep tarmac climb and a stepped footbridge at Earlestown. Follows the St Helens/Sankey Canal, passing the Sankey Viaduct (George Stephenson's monument, the first major railway bridge in the world), old locks, and the 'Mucky Mountains' spoil heaps of the former vitriol works, now reclaimed by nature. Stations at both ends with working lifts.

10km.

Crossing the railway at Earlestown uses a stepped footbridge, making the route foot-only.

Lunch: Shops, pubs and eateries at both ends.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Newton-le-Willows Station to Warrington Central Station (Lancashire)

15m direct from Runcorn East.

A route with urban ends and a pleasant rural middle, following the Sankey Canal through good countryside. Surfaces range from tarmac cycle track to unmade, muddy and grassy paths; access gates and steps make it mostly foot-only and parts are liable to flood after heavy rain. Follows the Sankey (St Helens) Canal, considered England's first industrial canal, with remnants of locks along the way; much of the route is a designated cycle route. Free car park at Newton-le-Willows station.

Easy: 10km, gentle ascents.

Parts can flood after severe rain; several muddy sections, access gates, steps and kissing gates. A couple of road crossings at each end.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Shotton Station to Ellesmere Port Station (Flintshire)

30m direct from Runcorn East.

A foot-only route across fields with wet, cloying soil, plus stiles and kissing gates, two lengthy unpaved road walks. Where paved and surfaces are good with crossings and ramps.

17km. Gentle ascents.

The only access to Shotton's lower station is via stairs; there are stiles, kissing gates, two long unpaved road walks and crossings of two busy A-roads. Fields are often wet and muddy.

Lunch: A few shops and pubs along the way, with shops at each end.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Neston Station to Shotton Station (Cheshire)

30m direct from Runcorn East.

great views. A varied rural route through pretty Wirral villages, scenic views over the Dee Estuary to the Welsh hills, a mix of terrains — well-paved sections, field paths, farm tracks, the tarmac Millennium Greenway and quiet unpaved lanes uphill into Burton. Some boggy and muddy sections around Shotwick Hall Farm and the farm track between Shotwick and Deeside; the marshes flood at high spring tides. Links with cycle and walking routes from Shotton and the Wirral Way at Neston; the navigation around the two Shotton stations is well described in the successor route.

15km.

Several sections along roads with no pavements, including blind corners between Denhall and Burton (light traffic). Field crossings can be very muddy. The marshes flood at high spring tides. Field-path terrain makes it foot-only.

Lunch: Food and toilet options on the route: convenience stores in Neston and Shotton, pubs in Little Neston and Shotton, and cafes in Denhall and Puddington.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Flint Station to Shotton Station (Flintshire)

30m direct from Runcorn East.

A good, direct route mostly on the Wales Coast Path, with a lovely, bleak and remote saltmarsh section overlooking the Dee Estuary at the Flint end - which can get muddy and may flood at very high tides, with bridges and duckboards over the wettest parts. About 40-50% is unavoidable pavement walking on main roads through the middle and with wide pavements and well-chosen crossings; the exit at Shotton uses a high stepped railway bridge. Mostly follows the Wales Coast Path. The Dee Estuary saltmarsh is rich in birdlife - curlew, oystercatchers, great egrets seen. Flint Castle and lifeboat station near the Flint end.

9km.

The saltmarsh path east of Flint may flood at very high tides, with bridges/duckboards over the wettest parts that may be hard to reach without treading in mud. A high railway bridge with steps on both sides at Shotton. Watch for dog mess on the railside path.

Lunch: A couple of quirky-themed cafes about 2km in; pubs and takeaways near Shotton station and in Flint.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Manchester Oxford Road Station to Levenshulme Station (Lancashire)

45m direct from Runcorn East.

A direct urban route mostly on pavements through residential streets, passing interesting architecture and small parks and avoiding the busiest roads. Mostly flat and easy underfoot. Passes the Victoria Baths and Elizabeth Gaskell's house, and near the Alan Turing statue and Chinatown Arch; good bus links and shops en route.

6km.

Lunch: Lots of places to stop along the way.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route