Discover Audlem: Walking Routes and Culture

If you’re choosing a destination based on walks, waterside scenery and culture, Audlem offers several specific points of interest. Along the Shropshire Union Canal, you can walk the towpath and watch boats pass through the Audlem flight of locks. There are also walks of varying lengths, frequently spotted bird species, a historic church, and a music and arts festival. These different themes can help you tailor your trip to your interests.

By the canal: boats, locks and the Weaver Way

The Audlem flight of locks comprises 15 locks. On the Shropshire Union Canal, it covers a distance of one and a half miles and a change in elevation of 93 feet. If you’re walking along the towpath, you can watch boats pass through these locks. This brings the waterside path and the view of the lock system together as one theme: you can see both canal traffic and the sequence of locks.

The Shropshire Union Canal towpath at Audlem forms the southern section of the Weaver Way. This is particularly useful if you’re interested in paths that are both part of a named route and connected to the canal. You can therefore consider a waterside walk in the context of the Weaver Way, without confusing the route with the flight of locks: one refers to a section of the path, the other to the lock system boats pass through.

Choose walks to suit the time you have

The Highfields Circuit takes about two and a half to three hours to complete. This gives you an approximate timeframe; path conditions can change, so it’s worth checking them before setting off. Audlem Vale offers a gentle 30-minute walk. The route includes stiles and may also be muddy. This gives you a choice between a longer hike and a considerably shorter walk when planning your time. The information about duration and route character can help you estimate the scope of each walk.

Wildlife by the water

Canada geese, swans, coots, moorhens, herons and ducks are frequently spotted along the canal at Audlem. When walking the towpath, you can look out for these species as well as boats. Wildlife adds another dimension to the landscape alongside the locks and canal, without guaranteeing that you’ll spot any particular species.

The Audlem Wildlife & Ecology Group also organises visits to various wildlife sites. This offers another way to explore wildlife in Audlem, distinct from observing it along the canal: in this case, the visits are organised by the group.

Architecture and culture

The Church of St James is a Perpendicular church with surviving remains from the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Its architectural classification and the dates of the surviving parts provide a specific historical point of interest for anyone interested in church architecture and medieval building history. The two details refer to different things: Perpendicular describes the type of church, while the dates refer to its surviving remains.

Another cultural highlight is the Audlem Music & Arts Festival. It is free and takes place over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May. The festival showcases music and art, including poetry slams, art and costume exhibitions, and performances by singer-songwriters. Its range brings together different art forms, while its late-May timing may be relevant to your travel plans. If the festival is the reason for your trip, check the exact dates and programme in advance: details may vary.

Discover more destinations: Aston, Lower Whitley, Neston, Pulford, Waverton, Macclesfield, Alsager, South Wirral.

For the broader travel overview: Cheshire.