Ashton and Peak Forest Canals

Canals and Cycleway                    Ashton/ Mcr/Stockport    2 and a half hours (approx)

At Woodley in Stockport drop down to the Peak Forest Canal heading away from Marple and going towards Ashton.

On a sunny day it’s a gorgeous route with houses sweeping down to the water’s edge. Pass signs for Haughton Dale and the Tame Valley Park. The canal is lined with woodland and fields with chilled out horses.

Little bridges span the waterway on a regular basis. Compare their architecture with gentle curves to the modern canal bridges all squared and concrete.

 

Every now and then you have to clamber up a cobbled path and cross over to the other side. Horses must once have done this very thing. Didn’t they slip on the cobbles? I do. Regularly.

These boats are moored just past an extensive aviary. No idea what the birds were but there must have been hundreds all chirruping away.

 All the bridges boast a fresh coat of paint. They probably look as good as they did in the first place.

This is not a great photo but it’s a plaque to the mother-in-law of David Livingstone, the explorer. She died in 1871, was born in Dukinfield. She herself was an African missionary. The stone is just before Ashton.

This is a little swing bridge just near Portland Basin. It looks gorgeous in the sunshine.

So peaceful.

Literally yards from the Basin.

This is the Strawberry Duck, situated on the side of a lock on the Ashton Canal  heading for the Etihad stadium. The next photograph shows another view of the pub with a strange guy waving an American flag.

At this time of the year the canals are alive with hundreds of geese and families of ducks. 

There are babies all over the place. These two were getting a lesson in personal hygiene and washing techniques from Mum.

Left towards Openshaw at the green sign on the Ashton Canal. Through Openshaw, Clayton, Gorton till, just after Abbey Hey Lane, you join the Manchester Cycleway. Follow this all the way to the second sign for Highfield country park, right next to a green footbridge. Turn left into the park and make your way leftish through to Heaton Chapel. Cross the A6 and head towards the back of B and Q. Here you drop down towards the Mersey and so rejoin the Trans Pennine Trail back to Cheadle Heath.