The little humpback bridge in Grappenhall leads to another world. On one side of the canal lie Warrington and modern day suburbia, but crossing over you step back in time. Here a 12th century church and two ancient pubs stand on a cobbled street, and the open fields beyond continue the feeling of olde worlde spaciousness. But the best is left till last as the Lumb Brook Valley winds its secret way through the trees along the edge of the countryside - and it all belongs to the Woodland Trust.
LOCATION: Two miles south east of Warrington
START: Roadside parking on Cliff Lane off A50, half mile south of junction with A56
Grid ref: SJ644866 Postcode: WA4 2TT
DISTANCE: 7 miles
GRADE: Easy
TIME: 3.5 hours
MAP: Explorer - Bolton, Wigan & Warrington Landranger 109
NOTE: www.woodland-trust.org.uk
REFRESHMENTS: Grappenhall
EN ROUTE: Appleton Dingle, Bridgewater Canal, Lumb Brook, Timberland Trail
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News