North Cheshire Way

This linear stretch of the North Cheshire Way sets out from Upper Marston and drops down towards Marbury Brook, threading through the woodland and waterside paths of Anderton Nature Park. It is a walk that rewards steady progress rather than pace, with quiet lanes giving way to canal and river scenery as you approach the heart of the Weaver valley.

Passing the Stanley Arms and Christ Church, the route heads for Barnton Tunnel, one of the distinctive features of the Trent and Mersey Canal, before dropping to the former Saltersford Lock beside the Weaver Navigation. From here you can look across to the Barnton Cut and the mouth of Saltersford Tunnel, a reminder of the area's long working relationship with inland waterways.

The final stretch follows the river past the Riverside Inn, with Little Leigh Pond, Haydn's Pool and Forge Pool tucked into the landscape nearby, before finishing at the Leigh Arms. At just over five miles with modest ascent, it makes a manageable half-day outing with two welcoming pubs to break the journey.