Eight picturesque places in St Helens submitted by readers

Although there can be some negativity present in some quarters of the borough, others have a real pride of place in St Helens and the wider borough.

After the Star asked readers for the most picturesque places in our area earlier this month, here are some of our favourite picks along with some further gems submitted in the St Helens Star Camera Club.

READ > St Helens is a town with ‘so much to be proud about’

Carr Mill Dam

Carr Mill Dam by Steven Southward (Image: Steven Southward) Built in the 18th century, Carr Mill Dam is the largest body of water in Merseyside and a popular place for walkers in St Helens.

Offering picturesque lakeside trails, the Dam also hosts boating and angling events throughout the year while the popular Dam Bar and Grill offers food and drink with spectacular views.

Taylor Park

Taylor Park by Geoff Jackson (Image: Geoff Jackson) Officially opened in 1893, Taylor Park is the largest of the town's Victorian parks and designed amongst a dramatic sequence of woodland areas, bodies of water, grassland, and play space. 

Another popular place for walkers, pet owners, and families, the Mount gives panoramic views of the surrounding landscape while the Boat House cafe offers a space to eat, drink, and relax.

Billinge Hill

Billinge Hill by Keith Griffiths (Image: Keith Griffiths) With a maximum elevation of 179m, Billinge Hill is the highest point in Merseyside and views can be seen for miles across neighbouring areas. On clear days, observers can point out the mountains of Snowdonia in Wales, the skyscrapers in Manchester and Blackpool Tower.

With a beacon tower at the summit, Billinge Hill is another popular place for its mazy trails and walking routes around the open fields.

Dream

Dream by Malcom Shucksmith (Image: Malcom Shucksmith) Unveiled atop the former Sutton Manor Colliery in 2009, Dream was commissioned by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, who worked closely with a group of local ex-miners.

The 20-metre structure is coated in white Spanish dolomite to contrast with the coal and mining industry which stood before it, and is carved to resemble the head and neck of a young girl who is looking forward and dreaming of a brighter future.

It is known as a good walking spot and can be seen by drivers traveling past on the nearby M62.

Victoria Park

Victoria Park by Clare White (Image: Clare White) With Victoria Park's Mansion Park constructed for local solicitor John Ansdell in 1849, the building and surrounding land was acquired by St Helens Council and reopened to the public as 'Cowley Hill Park' in 1886.

Renamed in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, the park has remained a popular recreational space for more than a century, with restoration work completed in 2014.

Lyme and Wood Country Park

Lyme and Wood Country Park by Alan Holland (Image: Alan Holland) Originally the site of two coal mines, Lyme & Wood Country Park, located between Earlestown and Haydock, consists of 274 acres with 180,000 trees planted.

The legacy of the pits remains as Wood Pit Colliery and Lyme Colliery mines were the inspiration for the park’s name.

The landfill was completed in 2019 and since then, volunteers have been contributing to the site’s developments to achieve a biodiversity park for a greener area.

Sankey Canal

Sankey Canal by Dave Oxford (Image: Dave Oxford) In the 1750s, the Sankey Canal was built principally to transport coal from the coal mines in Haydock and Parr to the growing chemical industries of Liverpool.

With the world's first major railway viaduct crossing the canal in Newton-le-Willows, it is an area that attracts many walkers with its history, wildlife, and peaceful setting.

Inglenook Farm

Around Inglenook Farm by Hilary Bradshaw (Image: Hilary Bradshaw) Inglenook Farm was constructed around 1874 and became one of the largest pig farms in the area until it changed hands in 2007.

Once the owners left the premises, Inglenook took a real left turn as its pig pens were turned into lavender fields and its stables were converted into an essential oil distillery and mix of artisan shops.

With dozens of fields and Rainford Brook in its vicinity, the farm houses the popular Cherry Orchard and dog training facility K9 barn, and also hosts private events, weddings, and artisan markets throughout the year.