Waterway heritage and recreation creates a sense of local identity and contributes to people feeling good about where they work, live and visit.

There are lots of different activities for you to enjoy including walking and cycling, horse riding, fishing, bird & wildlife spotting, photography and drawing & painting. How about a picnic or visiting one of the cafes and pubs along the way? On-water activities include canoeing (Foundry Wharf, St Helens), sailing (Fiddlers Ferry and Spike Island Marinas) and even power boat racing (Carr Mill Dam)!

The natural environment is increasingly valued as an important public health resource that helps to enhance general health and wellbeing in our communities. We know that being on or near water improves people’s mental and physical health because it encourages walking, running and cycling along the towpaths. The Sankey Canal can be freely enjoyed by people with a wide range of interests and of all ages and backgrounds.

Calming waters, attractive landscapes, shady woodlands and interesting wildlife make for a pleasant traffic-free commute or a stroll at any time of the day. Or a day spent watching a fishing line from the bank.