Canalside Trail

This gentle linear walk follows the towpath of the Shropshire Union Canal from the village of Mollington into the heart of Chester, covering just over two miles with only modest ascent. It is an easy, largely level route that traces the canal south-east through open Cheshire countryside before drawing you steadily into the city.

Along the way you pass the junction with the Shropshire Union Canal's Dee Branch and the historic Taylors Graving Dock, a reminder of Chester's long working relationship with its waterways. The towpath then rises towards Northgate, where the sandstone walls of the city come into view, and continues past the King Charles Tower on the north-east corner of the walls before finishing in the City of Chester itself.

Nearby you can extend your visit by exploring the War Memorial, the Life for a Life and Fallen for the Fallen memorials, and Chester's famous medieval gates including the Eastgate and the Watergate. It's a route that packs canal heritage, city walls and green edges into a short, easily walkable stretch.