Wheelock Canal Walk

5 miles (8 km)

This walk takes you along a section of the Trent and Mersey Canal from Wheelock to Watch Lane Flash Nature Reserve near Moston. You start on the canal in Wheelock, a few miles south of Sandbach.... From here you head west towards Moston passing close to the Elton Flashes Nature Reserve before finishing at the pretty lake at Watch Lane.
This easy waterside walk follows a peaceful section of the Trent and Mersey Canal through the Cheshire countryside, combining quiet towpaths with a visit to one of the county's attractive local nature reserves. The level route passes open farmland, hedgerows and mature trees, making it suitable for walkers of all abilities.
The canal was completed in the late eighteenth century to link the River Trent with the River Mersey, playing a vital role in the transport of pottery, salt and other goods through the industrial Midlands and North West. Today it provides a tranquil corridor for walkers, cyclists and narrowboats, with swans, moorhens, kingfishers, herons and dragonflies regularly seen along the water's edge.
Towards the end of the walk you pass close to Elton Flashes Nature Reserve before reaching Watch Lane Flash Nature Reserve, where a large lake and surrounding wetlands provide an important habitat for wildfowl and other birds. The reserve includes easy paths, viewing areas and peaceful waterside scenery, making it an excellent place to pause before returning or continuing your walk.
You can continue your walking in the area on the Wheelock Rail Trail.