Manchester Ship Canal, River Mersey, and Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve, Warrington

Taking It Easy

I had my second Pfizer Covid 19 vaccination on Tuesday, and so, in case I began to feel side effects, I decided to take an easy walk in a populated area which I know well from previous visits.

Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve

I have been a permit holder at the reserve for over 20 years, and visit 2 or 3 times each year. It supports a nationally important breeding population of black-necked grebes. The reserve is clearly visible (for passengers!) in vehicles crossing the M6 Thelwall Viaduct, northbound.

If you want to know more, visit:

https://woolstoneyes.com/

Introduction To The Walk

Whilst it may appear that the walk is in fairly built up areas, in fact the overwhelming majority is along tree lined canal tracks or disused railways protected by vegetation.

Travel time –35 minutes each way. Walk time – 2.5 hours plus an hour’s birdwatching and lunch.

The weather was cloudy at first, with a burst of heavy rain around the mid-point.

The walk was 7 miles, and flat.

For dog walkers, who aren’t permit holders, and therefore avoiding the Nature Reserve, this is an excellent walk with much of the walk on wide, fenced paths, and a couple of big parks too for a run around.

OS Explorer Map 276

I parked for free at the Nature Reserve car park, which is only accessible to permit holders through a padlocked gate at the end of Thelwall Lane, and along a pot-holed track. Most of the walk is near roads, and finding somewhere to park, and starting at a different point is easy enough.

Manchester Ship Canal

The canal was built to allow sea-going ships to by-pass Liverpool and reach the heart of “Cottonopolis”. It opened in 1894, replacing the original Mersey and Irwell Navigation. By the 1970s its useful days for industry were over, but it is still very much with us.

I headed west along the canalside track, soon passing the ferry point, which I understand is a point where a public footpath ran before the canal was built, and the public right of way continues to be upheld by the presence of this ferry!

The track is alive with songbirds in the tangled vegetation and gorse.

The next point of interest is the massive double, or is it triple, lock at Latchford, followed by the impressive, disused railway bridge.

After crossing the A50, which is carried on a huge swing bridge, another minor road towers above on a handsome structure, near to where new waterside flats are under construction.

Disused Railway

After passing Warrington Town FC’s ground, I reached a park on my right. I cut across the park, over the road, and down to a path along a disused railway line. I knew from the map that I was in quite a built-up area, but dense foliage along the path made it feel quite countryfied! Another disused railway bridge crossed my way, and I liked the old signs that had been left in place despite modern ones having been erected.

River Mersey

At the end of the track, I came to the river, and the Kingsway (A50) road bridge.

I crossed the bridge and followed the river bank northwards, past some well tended allotments. It was raining steadily now, but I don’t think the flood defences were needed just yet! However, the work done is well designed and attractive.

The history of the river Mersey and the various navigations is really well explained on this Information Board.

Here’s a close-up of the map showing the “Old Cut” which created the massive island which is now Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve, and the “New Cut” in red which was formed to reduce travel times on the Mersey and Irwell Navigation, before the Ship Canal superseded all else.

I followed the route of the New Cut, which is straight, but alive with plant and bird life.

Woolston

Arriving at the basin where the Old Cut was created, there is always plenty of bird activity. The pochards with their rusty orange heads, were today’s highlight.

I crossed the river here, and headed back south. As I reached the Ship Canal, a cormorant on a log was drying its wings after the rain!

The Reserve

I took my lunch and binoculars from the car and headed to the padlocked gate onto the reserve.

The gate took me onto the bridge over the redundant loop of the river.

There are several hides around the reserve, the main one being the Morgan Hide where I ate lunch, and watched numerous, varied bird species!

I saw a couple of black-necked grebes, though not close enough for my phone to picture them. Here’s a library picture of a pair at this site.

I did manage to get a shot of a heron though!

Despite the weather, this was a thoroughly enjoyable walk, mixing nature and industrial archaeology.

And Finally…..

We found some old memory sticks whilst clearing out drawers yesterday. And one featured this splendid tune which I haven’t heard for ages. The late Allen Toussaint with “Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky”