Bridgewater Way
A 39-mile long distance footpath in north-west England. Starting in Runcorn and ending in Leigh, it mainly follows the towpath of the Bridgewater Canal. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: SJ 510 828
Distance: 39 miles (63 km)
Time: 14–20 hours
Duration: 2–4 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
267 Northwich and Delamere Forest
268 Wilmslow, Macclesfield and Congleton
275 Liverpool, St Helens, Widnes and Runcorn
276 Bolton Central, Wigan and Warrington
277 Manchester and Salford
Summary
The Bridgewater Way is a walking route in the north-west of England that follows the towpath of the Bridgewater Canal, which was built in the 1760s by the Duke of Bridgewater to carry coal. It was the first man-made canal in Britain, and its completion sparked the canal mania that followed during the Industrial Revolution. From the beginning of the walk at Waterloo Bridge, Runcorn, the walk passes Norton Priory (remains of), Norton, Cawley’s Bridge, George Cleave’s Bridge, Kepwick Hill Bridge, Moore Hall, Higher Walton, Walton Hall, the Hillcliffe, Cobbs, and Grapplehall areas of Warrington, Oughtrington, Spud Wood, Little Bollington, Dunham Massey, Oldfield Brow, Altrincham, Sale, Barfoot Bridge, the Stretford, Trafford Park, and Eccles areas of Manchester, Worsley, Astley Green, Bedford, and Leigh.