Stockton Heath to Lymm

Stockton Heath has good provision for pubs and wine bars and the ones in the centre were certainly busy on a Thursday evening when we strolled down there, and past the Manchester Ship Canal to look at the River Mersey. We had looked on the map and the river runs adjacent to a main road so we thought there maybe a pathway down to it, but there wasn't, in fact we only had glimpses of the river through all the overgrown weeds and bushes by the side of the road and there was no evidence of a pathway. Anyway I think our romantic thoughts of an evening stroll down by the river were not really thought through, this was the Mersey after all and tidal even at this point, the tide was out so it was only mud down there really, no wonder there wasn't a pathway.

The next day after a bit of a lazy morning we set off to continued our flat (no locks) journey ending up in Lymm. We passed by the village visitor moorings and stopped just outside being a short stroll back to the shops, but we did have a nice view from the side hatch.

Moored just outside Lymm

Panorama from the side hatch

We did venture into the village where there is a good choice of pubs, tea rooms and coffee shops, also a handy Sainsbury's Local, with Lymm Cross being just outside it.

Lymm Cross is designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. The cross dates from the early to middle 17th century and it was restored in 1897. It is constructed of sandstone and stands on an artificially stepped natural outcrop of red sandstone. Its shaft stands in a square pavilion of red sandstone with square corner pillars. It has a stone roof with a pedimented gable to each face and ball finials. Above the cross is an extension which carries a stone ball and an ornate weather vane. On the east, south and west gables are bronze sundials of 1897 carrying the inscriptions "We are a Shadow", "Save Time" and "Think of the Last". 

Lymm Cross

5.5 miles

Total 292 .75 miles and 163 locks