Best walks to or from St Helens Central

St Helens Central Station to Newton-le-Willows Station

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

St Helens Central Station to Lea Green Station

A short town-to-town route: leaves the centre on a tarmac canal towpath, climbs onto higher ground, crosses a retail park and then takes a tarmac track and an earth-and-stone path that can be wet and muddy through Sherdley Park before broad park paths lead to the station.

Easy: 4km, moderate ascents.

Foot-only route due to the footpath into Sherdley Park; a road near Grove's Dam is prone to flooding though passable on foot.

Lunch: Plenty of shops and places for refreshment in the retail park mid-route.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Prescot Station to St Helens Central Station

A mostly urban route that avoids the busy roads of the direct alternative, using quieter residential streets, cycle routes and footpaths, with the best sections through a park and woodland and a wildflower meadow at Thatto Heath. A short steep section through woods; one large puddle to skirt; finishes alongside a disused canal. Crosses Thatto Heath Meadows nature reserve, full of wildflowers and overlooking St Helens, where moorhens, coots and a cormorant were seen. Finishes alongside the disused St Helens Canal.

7km.

About a mile of main road near Prescot. Thatto Heath nature reserve has cycle barriers and a stile.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route