5k Run Kidsgrove: Scenic Trip Along the Trent and Mersey Canal

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 5.1km out-and-back route offers a pancake-flat run along the historic Trent and Mersey Canal, perfectly suited for those looking to clock some steady miles without the distraction of hills. Starting from Hardingswood Road in Kidsgrove, you will follow the water's edge toward Church Lawton on a path that, while not paved, provides a consistent and well-trodden surface typical of British canal towpaths. With only 11 meters of total ascent, it’s an ideal choice for a tempo session, a recovery jog, or a tranquil morning run where you can focus entirely on your cadence and the rhythm of the water.

Steeped in industrial heritage, this section of the canal is famously home to the Harecastle Tunnel, a feat of 18th-century engineering by James Brindley and Thomas Telford. Running through this area, you'll pass the "Meeting of the Waters," where the Macclesfield Canal joins the Trent and Mersey, marking a significant junction in Newcastle-under-Lyme’s canal history. The route captures the quintessential charm of the Cheshire-Staffordshire border, offering runners a glimpse of traditional narrowboats and the red-brick architecture that defines this former heartland of the UK's pottery and coal industries.