Wigg Island
This circular walk visits the lovely Wigg Island park between Runcorn and Widnes in Cheshire.
The park sits in an interesting location, between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal. The area is also deisgnated as a local nature reserve so is popular with local birdwatchers. It is named after Charles Wigg, who started an alkali works there in the 1860s to extract copper from its ore.
You can start the walk from the car park and visitor centre at the western end of the site. Then pick up a circular trail heading around the island for just over 3 miles.
Postcode
WA7 1LU - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsWigg Island Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Wigg Island Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Wigg Island OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Wigg Island Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
If you cross the Runcorn Bridge you can pick up the Widnes Walk. This will take you along the Mersey Way to two local highlights at Hale Lighthouse and Speke Hall.
Head east and you'll find the worthy village of Daresbury. The village is notable as the birthplace of of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll who was born there in 1832. It includes the Lewis Carroll visitor centre where you can learn all about his life and try the 'Lewis Carroll's Boyhood Walk' which runs from Daresbury church to the site of the parsonage, passing through fields and lanes that the young Carroll would have known.
Just to the east there's the picturesque Moore Nature Reserve. It's a lovely place for a walk with lakes, peaceful woodland and attractive meadows to explore. The reserve is also great for wildlife with a wide range of birds to look out for on the water. You can find them on the south western side of Warrington, next to the Manchester Ship Canal at postcode WA4 6XE for your sat navs.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cheshire Walks and the Merseyside Walks pages.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Wigg Island Visitor Centre, Halton. Recently landscaped. Notice wind turbine that provides power to the building. Mersey estuary just visible to left of photograph.
Bird Hide at Wigg Island. One of several bird hides at the Community Park, this one situated by the car park, with the Runcorn Widnes Bridge in the background. The Park is situated between the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey.
Bird hide view. The 23 hectare Community Park was opened in 2005, having been a former ICI industrial site. Many trees have been planted and the area is now a popular recreational venue.
Old Quay Swing Bridge, Manchester Ship Canal. The Old Quay Swing Bridge, near Runcorn, opens to allow a ship through. In the background is the Runcorn-Widnes Bridge.
'Saxon Stone' sculpture on the island.
Former Runcorn-Latchford Canal. This spur of a former canal remains within Wigg Island Community Park. The canal was built between 1799 and 1804, pre-dating the Manchester Ship Canal by almost a hundred years. The area is a Local Nature Reserve and attracts much wildlife.