Daresbury & Halton - A 9 Mile Run from the Birthplace of Lewis Carroll to Halton Castle

Introduction

Today on Run Adventurer we’re in Daresbury in Cheshire a lovely old Cheshire village with Sandstone buildings and a great pub the Ring O’Bells . You can spot Daresbury from miles away in Cheshire due to the distinctive Daresbury Laboratory Tower which was sited here as it’s on Sandstone Bedrock which protects the delicate scientific instruments. Daresbury is also famous as the place where the author of Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) was born and raised. He returned to Daresbury later in life and drew inspiration for his writing from the area, if you visit Daresbury there is a Lewis Carroll Centre (right by our starting point) where you can learn more about him  

At the other end of the route we reach Halton Castle with fantastic views across Merseyside including the new Mersey Gateway Bridge and Fiddlers Ferry Power Station, fans of the BBC TV show Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps will recognise Halton Castle and surrounding area from the show including the infamous Jonny Gets Shot episode where Jonny gets shot by the castle 

The Route

Todays route takes us from Daresbury, through Daresbury Firs and onto the Bridgewater Canal then across the fields and back to the canal at Norton where we head past Norton Priory  and on towards Runcorn.

We turn away from the canal at Castlefields and up to Halton Castle before dropping down into Halton village and through Town Park, Pickering’s Rough and Phoenix Park and back to the canal at Fountains Wood to retrace our steps.

The route is 9 miles in total and largely off road with a few sections on paths at Halton.

Walkthrough

Starting from the Ring O’Bells at Daresbury (on your right) head up Chester Road then take the path on your right over the field and across the main road to Daresbury Firs. Head down the hill at Daresbury Firs bearing left which will bring you out on Delph Lane. Turn right and at the canal bridge turn left onto the Bridgewater canal. Follow the path until you reach a path on your right follow this path under the railway then bear left and continue under another railway bridge finally coming out back at the Bridgewater canal where we turn right and join the towpath. Follow the canal path past Norton Priory and Fountains Wood until the path comes out near the end of Astmoor Bridge Road.

We leave the canal here going straight on rather than crossing the canal. The Runcorn Loop path is easy to navigate as its red. Cross Castlefields Avenue North and continue on the red path which turns left up Astmoor lane passing the Fiddlers Three and snaking until it comes out on Tyrell Way where we cross the road.

You have a choice here..

The way I went I wanted to run up Halton Brow and past my grandparents home so I turned right and followed the path to Halton Brow then turned right up the Brow.

The Red Path Route

Alternatively go straight on on the red path, this continues up Astmoor Lane coming out on Summer Lane where you turn right rejoining me on the bend at the top of Halton Brow.

We now continue past the Norton Arms then turn left up The Green and then take the path on the right which climbs up to Halton Castle.

After a look around the castle head down Castle Road Main Street Halton Castle where we turn left and then right into Holt Lane. Now turn left into Town Park. Where the path forks bear right then continue to the far side and bear left. Now take the path to your right and stay on the main path, when yay reach a cross roads go straight on and follow the path to Norton lane where we go straight on for Pickerings Rough. You head down some steps and then you will reach a fork, turn left under the bridge and into Phoenix Park. The path forks here, go right and head straight on through the park towards Fountains Wood at the far side. Ignore the turn for fountains wood bearing left and you will reach the canal where we turn right and join it and retrace our steps back to the starting point.