Walks in Runcorn
This port town in Cheshire is located next to the Mersey Estuary in Halton. There's lots of good waterside walking along the canals and river which run through the area around the town.
This circular walk in the town explores Runcorn Hill where there are some fine views towards the Mersey Estuary. The hill is located just to the south of the train station and includes a car park as well. The site was originally a sandstone quarry but has now been converted into a local nature reserve with woodland, sandstone quarry clifs, heathland and parkland trails. There's good facilties with a visitor centre and cafe for refreshment.
Just north east of the park you can continue your walking in the town on Wigg Island. This park and nature reserve sits in an interesting location, between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal.
Postcode
WA7 4PT - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsRuncorn Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Runcorn Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Runcorn OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Runcorn Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Runcorn
- Widnes - This Cheshire based town has some fine walks along the river and canal which run through the area
- Hale Lighthouse - This circular walk visits the Hale Lighthouse on the River Mersey in Cheshire
- Mersey Way - Follow the River Mersey from Warrington to Liverpool on this waterside walk through Cheshire and Merseyside.
The trail is often walked in two stages with the first section running from Warrington to Widnes, passing Paddington Meadows Nature Reserve, Spike Island and Victoria Park on the way.
The second stage runs from Widnes to Liverpool, passing the Runcorn-Widnes Bridge and John Lennon airport, before finishing at Garston - Speke Hall - This circular coastal walk visits the National Trust owned Speke Hall in Liverpool
- Warrington - This circular walk around Warrington includes nice waterside stretches along the River Mersey, the Woolston Cut Canal and the Manchester Ship Canal
- Sankey Valley Park - Enjoy a super, waterside cycle or walk in this country park in Warrington
- Frodsham Hill - Climb to this prominent hill on the Mid-Cheshire Ridge on this lovely walk in Cheshire
- Bridgewater Way - A walk along the Bridgewater canal, through Cheshire, Greater Manchester and on into Lancashire
- Cheshire Ring Canal Walk - This nice easy walk follows six historic canals through Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Staffordshire
- Mersey Valley Timberland Trail - This walk runs from Lymm to Runcorn, following the Bridgewater canal for much of the route.
- Trent and Mersey Canal - Follow the Trent and Mersey Canal through Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire on this long distance waterside walk
- Weaver Way - Follow the Weaver Way through Cheshire from Audlem to Frodsham on this delightful 40 mile walk
- Wigg Island - This circular walk visits the lovely Wigg Island park between Runcorn and Widnes in Cheshire.
- Daresbury - This Cheshire based village is located close to Runcorn and Warrington
- Appleton Reservoir - This walk visits Appleton Reservoir near Warrington.
- Arley Hall - This walk visits Arley Hall and Gardens in the Cheshire based village of Arley
- Moore Nature Reserve - This walk visits the Moore Nature Reserve in the village of Moore in Halton, Cheshire.
Pubs/Cafes
There's an on site cafe at the hill but if you'd prefer a pub lunch then the Prospect Inn is close at hand. The popular pub does a fine Sunday roast and was awarded Halton CAMRA Pub Of The Year in 2012. You can find them on Weston Road at postcode WA7 4LD for your sat navs.
Dog Walking
The park is a popular place for dog walkers so you'll probably see other owners on your visit. The prospect inn mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
If you cross the Runcorn Bridge you can pick up the Widnes Walk. This will take you along the Mersey Way to two local highlights at Hale Lighthouse and Speke Hall.
To the east there's waterside trails along the Cheshire Ring Canal Walk. The town is also the spot where the Trent and Mersey Canal links with the Bridgewater Canal.
Head south and there's the popular climb to Frodsham Hill to try.
Head east and you'll find the worthy village of Daresbury. The village is notable as the birthplace of of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll who was born there in 1832. It includes the Lewis Carroll visitor centre where you can learn all about his life and try the 'Lewis Carroll's Boyhood Walk' which runs from Daresbury church to the site of the parsonage, passing through fields and lanes that the young Carroll would have known.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cheshire Walks and the Merseyside Walks pages.
Photos
Ponies on Weston Road, with the ICI chimneys and the river Mersey in the background.
A carving of local woodland animals by Angela Stillwell on Runcorn Hill.
Runcorn Hill and Pipelines at Weston Point
The Prospect Inn on Weston Road, situated on Runcorn Hill with great views of the Mersey, the Wirral and North Wales.
Quarry Workers Cottages, Highlands Road Quarry Workers Cottages, Highlands Road, dating from the 1800's. The quarry extended right up to the front doors by 1860. Runcorn Hill visitor centre and recreation ground stand on top of 35,000 tonnes of quarry spoil which was used to backfill the quarry.
ICI, Weston Point from the hill. The vast ICI plant on the banks of the river Mersey as viewed from Weston Road on the hill.
Frog's Mouth Quarry. Runcorn is perched at the northerly end of an outcrop of sandstone which overlooks the River Mersey, a reminder that deserts covered this area 250 million years ago. A series of red sandstone quarries dating back to 1734 litter the hill. This one was known as "Frog's mouth" and is popular with climbers. Extraction from this quarry ceased around 1850 and it was then gradually filled with the spoil of the newer quarries. The present level of the ground is about one third of the depth when it was a working quarry.
