Marbury Country Park and Anderton Boat Lift

Many of the features of Marbury Country Park, including the lime avenues and the arboretum, are a legacy of the days when Marbury was a grand estate. The last hall, built in the 1850s, was a fine looking house modelled on the French chateau at Fontainebleau, with an imposing carriage drive entrance.

There are also woodlands that are carpeted with bluebells in spring, a mere with splendid views over the water to the church at Great Budworth, and a community orchard.

Built in 1875, the Anderton Boat Lift was the world's first and is currently England's only boat lift. It provides a link between the Trent and Mersey Canal and the Weaver Navigation, some 50 feet below. Prior to its construction, goods had to be laboriously transported by hand between the two waterways. Originally it operated on a hydraulic system, and this is how it has been recently restored, but between 1908 and its closure in 1983 the hydraulics were replaced by an electric motor.

The mighty Anderton Boat Lift is one of the 'Seven Wonders of the Waterways' and is open most days as an award-winning vistor attraction.
 

More Northwich Woodlands

1. Turn right out of the car park.

2. Follow the road round to the left then to the right.

3. Where the road bends sharply to the left, take the straight on path signposted 'Mere' and 'Big Wood'. Follow this path round to the right beside the mere.

4. Turn left at the T junction then take the next left.

5. Follow the path beside the brook. Turn left at the T junction.

6. After reaching the Trent and Mersey Canal, the path bends right signposted 'Car Park'. At the T junction turn left, signposted 'Hopyards Wood'.

7. Turn left on the lane.

8. Cross the canal and turn right on to a track which leads to the towpath. Head away from Marbury Lane.

9. At the boat lift, cross the canal on the footbridge.

10. Turn left on Old Road.

11. Turn left on New Road.

12. Take the first turning on the right, a grassy track with a footpath sign.

13. Take the path on the right at the gate diagonally across the fields.

    09/04/13: This stretch of footpath has been reported as impassable. We are investigating this and will keep this page updated in relation to this issue.

14. Turn left at Cogshall Lane.

15. Take the path on the right.

16. Pass through Kennel Wood, crossing a footbridge over Cogshall Brook.

17. Turn right at Marbury Road.

18. After bearing left on to Marbury Lane, take the path on the left into the country park.

19. Turn right.

20. Return to the car park.