The River Weaver provides a flat river bank walk in Northwich.
The footpath is in excellent condition and frequently used for both walkers and runners. For most of the 7km route they are hard surfaced and don't have any styles making is great for pushchairs, scooters and bikes too.
Top Info
🚗 Free parking at CW8 1ET
🥾 7km Circular route
💧 Walk along the River Weaver
👀 Views of Northwich Viaduct
🚶 Flat, trail paths
👶 Pushchair suitable if dry
🚲 Suitable for scooters & bikes
📑 Easy to follow
🚻 No Toilets on route
🌍 Yarwood Close, Northwich, CW8 1ET
When you arrive on Yarwood Close, drive to the far end and on the right you will find a small free car park under the viaducts arches. Its quite a cool structure to find right next to a housing estate and is right where your walk starts.
The Northwich Viaduct towers above you as you stand in the car park. There are 47 sandstone arches that carry the railway for almost 700m over the River Weaver.
This is such an easy walk to follow as you basically walk along one side of the River Weaver for 3km, cross over and then walk back along the other side. It has some great scenery along way with the Northwich Viaduct, walking under the blue Hartford Bridge and you get to walk over 2 massive canal locks. Its all on a flat, trail path so as long as its dry its great for everybody. Pushchairs, scooters and bikes wouldn't have a problem along the paths. Its 7km so would take you between 1.5 - 2 hours to complete.
The start of the walk
From the car park turn your back to the viaduct and walk past a vehicle barrier on to the riverside path to Hunts Lock. Past a few trees and you can see the canal with its impressive lock. I always find these interesting and love watching when canal boats go through them. I loved this walk straight away, as one if the first things you do is walk over the lock on one of the little walk ways to get to the other side.
Once over the lock, take the path to the left of the lock keepers office which leads over Riverdale Bridge. Once over the bridge turn right on to the riverside path and simply walk along this for 3km. Along the way you can spot canal boats moored up or chugging past on the water.
About half way along the path you walk underneath the Blue Hartford Bridge and even further along you come across another railway viaduct. Take in the impressive brick structure as you walk below it, and you then come to Vale Royal Locks.
Cross back over the bridge, going over the section of the river which was first canalised more than 200 years ago. Go right, and follow the track across a wide bridge. Again, keep right and ascend the slope and you will find yourself in the woodland. Walk back under the railway bridge and through the trees for 800m until you get to a main road.
Don't cross the road but go right before it drops down to the river. Turn left down a small path and under the Blue Bridge. This leads you onto a grassy path along the river.
Keep going along this path, walking past Marshalls Arm Nature Reserve which you cant miss as there is a big metal sign at the entrance. When the path comes out onto a road, close to the entrance to the boat yard, go left for a few meters to a path heading right. Keeping parallel to the river. Soon you will be back at those first locks and be be able to find the car park.
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