Lymm Dam Heritage Trail

Difficulty
Circular
Distance
3.6 miles / 5.8 km
Time
1h 00m
Start
St Mary's Church Hall, Crouchley Lane, Lymm
Map
OS Explorer 276 Bolton, Wigan & Warrington
Terrain
Some steep and unsurfaced paths
Barriers
None
Accessibility
-
Toilets
Public convenience on Church Road near Lymm Bridge
Contact

Warrington rangers: 01925 758195

Lymm Dam is managed by Warrington Borough Council.

In 1824 the Lymm Dam was constructed to make way for a road, which is now the A56. The beautiful village of Lymm is perfect for a day trip out. The dam is a central point with a variety of footpaths, canal paths and the Trans Pennine Trail providing stunning local walks. The area surrounding the dam is renowned for richness in wildlife, whilst the dam itself is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (or SINC), and the woodlands surrounding the dam contain a variety of trees and a carpet of wildflowers. Birds and bats are prevalent in the area and are often seen around the dam.

Photo by David Jones from Isle of Wight, United Kingdom [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

  1. Take the footpath from the car park and bear right on to the heritage trail. Follow the trail for approximately 300m.

  2. Join Higher Road for 100m.

  3. Cross the road and rejoin the heritage trail.

  4. Walk through the woodland, alongside the Dingle (river) for 300m.

  5. Turn right on to Eaglebrow Road, follow the road round for 200m.

  6. Cross the road and join the Bridgewater Canal path. Walk along the Bridgewater Canal for 3/4 mile.

  7. Turn right on to Star Lane for 100m.

  8. Turn right on to the Trans Pennine Trail, walk along this for just over half a mile.

  9. Turn right on to Lymmhay Lane, walk for 300m.

  10. Turn right on to Brookfield Road, walk for 200m.

  11. Turn left on to the footpath through Slitten Gorge, follow this for 300m.

  12. Come off the footpath and turn left on Whitbarrow Road for 200m.

  13. Then rejoin the footpath back alongside the Dingle, stay on this footpath to walk right around Lymm Dam, just over a mile, this will bring you full circle back to the entrance point by St Mary's Church.