Short walks to explore in Cheshire

Whatever the season, there’s no better way to appreciate our unique and captivating countryside and green spaces than a gentle stroll or a brisk walk. Feel your lungs filling with clean air, see the spring flowers blooming and hear the twittering of birds as you surround yourself with nature.

Here, our comms volunteers Molly and Beverley have picked out shorter walks suitable for range of abilities. We’ve included comments about wheelchair accessibility where we can. Timings are for walking at a gentle pace and enjoying the views!

As someone with disabilities who can walk short distances with lots of breaks, Molly particularly enjoys the Nantwich Lake walk and the Wheelock Rail Trail for flat walks with lots of accessibility options, including wide pathways and benches.

1. Around Nantwich

Nantwich Lake circuit

Length – 15-20 minutes

For those who can’t walk far and need flat ground, small wetland areas such as Nantwich Lake are perfect. This is a lovely walk for families too, with plenty of duck-spotting fun and a community orchard. There are free parking spaces nearby for easy access and plenty of seating surrounding the lake for those with limited mobility.

Canal loop

Length:  1 hour – 1 hour 15 mins

Those who want a slightly longer walk can join the Shropshire Union canal by the bridge near Dorfold Hall. Go right, past the wooden horse statue. When you see a set of steps to your right, walk across the field public footpath and through a housing estate and you will come to Acton church. You can then sweep around to come back to the bridge you started at.

Accessibility: There is a ramp up to the canal, as well as steps. The circular walk wouldn’t be suitable for wheelchair users as involves walking the extremely narrow footpath by Dorfold Hall and includes some across field walking with steps up to the bridge and gate. For those with limited mobility, there are multiple benches.

The Nantwich Loop

Length: 2 hours

For a longer walk in Nantwich, try the ‘Nantwich Loop’, which is around 3 miles. A lovely varied walk, taking you along the River Weaver, past the lake and through fields, then returning to town along the Shropshire Union canal towpath.

Accessibility: Steps onto the canal, some uneven ground and narrow paths.

More information

The Nantwich Loop

2. Queens Park – Crewe

Spread over an area of 45 acres, this beautiful park has walks available for all abilities. Pathways are smooth for wheelchair users and there’s plenty of outdoor seating. With an ornamental lake, bandstand and café, there is a lot to do and see.

More information

Cheshire East Council website – Queens Park

Accessibility information for each area of the park with pictures – Accessible Queens Park 
Sustrans Route 451 – Crewe Cycle Route

3. The Wizard’s Wander – Alderley Edge

Length – 45 minutes – 1 hour

Alderley Edge

With breath-taking views across Cheshire and a dense woodland canopy to explore, this walk is great if you can manage a little uneven ground and fancy a bit of ‘forest bathing’. Other trails are also marked if you want a longer route. And there’s a woodland café for post walk relaxation!

Accessibility: This walk is potentially suitable for wheelchair users, though the terrain is slightly tricky in parts. The National Trust comments: “While a generally flat, surfaced circuit, there are some bumpy slopes to tackle, so wheelchair users may need accompanying”.

More information

The Edge (includes accessibility details)

4. Tegg’s Nose – Macclesfield

Length – 1 hour – 1 hour 20 minutes

Possibly Cheshire’s best short walk for views! Teggs Nose offers fantastic panoramic views stretching from the Peak District moors past Macclesfield Forest, across the Cheshire Plain and round to the Manchester skyline. On a clear day, you can see the Welsh hills.

Accessibility: Though Visit Cheshire class the path as ‘easy walking’, there is a set of uneven and steep steps and some uneven field paths. You can avoid either one of these by simply walking to and from the viewpoint the same way rather than completing the loop. Due to the uneven ground and some gates, the full walk unfortunately isn’t very accessible for wheelchair users. However, the views even from the car park are glorious, and you can wheel along the first part of the track (Radar key opens gate), returning to enjoy a snack in the café.

More information

Tegg’s Nose (includes accessibility details)

5. Wheelock Rail Trail – Sandbach

Length – up to 1 hour (turn back at any point).

Wheelock Rail Trail

This walk from Sandbach to Ettiley Heath follows a disused railway line, making it the most accessible walk on our list. It is completely flat, with various entrance points dotted throughout the trail, most of them accessible by ramp and so perfect for wheelchair access.

Accessibility: Molly comments that as a person with limited mobility, she found the easiest way to access the trail was to park on Sandbach Football Club car park (even when a match was on we were told by a steward where to park) and walk directly onto the track. It is at level with the car park. The whole track runs for 2km and is traffic free, is wide enough for pushchairs, wheelchairs and even horse riders, and so you can turn back at any point on the trail.

More information

Wheelock Rail Trail 

If you do give any of these walks a go, we hope you enjoy immersing yourself in the beautiful nature that Cheshire has to offer.