Thursday 13 February 2025 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 1

I was honoured to be joined by five friends - Rick, Viv, Paul, Jeanette and Steve, plus Rufus the dog - for this first stage of the GM Ringway Trail. It's a fairly recent project that proceeds around Greater Manchester in 20 stages, all accessible by public transport. Today was an experiment - if successful I would plan further stages. The photo above is of the starting line up next to the 'Pebble' sculpture outside the Bridgewater Hall, just a few pedestrian crossings away from the start of the walk in St Peter's Square next to the asylum seekers' tented village.

The route took us down some steps to the Rochdale Canal, from where we followed the towpath all the way to beyond Old Trafford.

Once on the towpath and still in town, we wondered as to the purpose of this tall thin old building.

After some narrow sections of towpath we emerged onto Castle Street, where route markers pointed us across Catalan Square and over the distinctive Merchant's Bridge to the Bridgewater Canal towpath. 

Looking back, we could see that we had already escaped from the skyscrapers of central Manchester.

Some of us are very familiar with this section of Canal. It's part of the Fallowfield Loop and the Trans Pennine Trail/Cheshire Ring bike rides that we enjoy from time to time.

The towpath was still muddy from recent flooding, but there was a dry line and after crossing to the opposite side of the canal at Throstle's Nest bridge we soon reached the environs of the Red enclave of Manchester.

Beyond Water's Meet, the left branch of the canal led us to Stretford Marina.

Soon after this we said goodbye to the canal, leaving it after passing under the A56, Chester Road. Now for a section I'd never walked before, despite living close by. A right turn down Christie Road, then a footpath beyond the Renton Road junction, led us to an unusual metal bridge over the railway.

A left and a right then took us down Norwood Road, once a rat run but now blocked by substantial flower boxes, and along Longford Avenue to an entrance to Longford Park.

A short way into the park a cafe is passed. We were overdue a break, especially as everyone except me had drinks with them. Anyway, four of us enjoyed coffees in the warm interior, whilst Viv and Steve enjoyed their lunches on a bench outside, on the cool, overcast, February day.

Once we got going again, by-passing pets corner and other attractions, we soon reached the fine looking entrance to Longford Hall Garden. Once the home of John and Enriqueta Rylands, founders of the famous library, a glance into the garden revealed a sorry sight. There must be a volunteer group out there with a mission to restore the garden to its former glory. Sadly, the actual hall isn't capable of restoration. I remember it well as I lived close by in the 1980s, when the hall was used for a variety of functions. It survived until 1995, when the local council that owned it decided to demolish the building in order to eliminate the necessary maintenance costs. 

Beyond the tennis courts there's a bee sculpture that's in good condition compared with other nearby sculptures that are slowly rotting away.

A group photo with me in it presented some difficulty as nobody other than me seemed capable of pressing the shutter on my camera. You just need to tap the digital shutter... not press hard.

After that delay we nipped across Edge Lane and went down Turn Moss Road, passing to the left of the car park and continuing on across the grass next to a high hedge. This took us to the tarmac surface of Hawthorn Lane, where we turned right along the centuries old country lane.

On reaching a junction, some steps led us to the raised bank of the River Mersey. 

With debris up to a certain height, and banks badly eroded by the water, the effects of the recent flooding were clear to see.

We turned left along the bank to join the Trans Pennine Trail, where our path turned right over Chorlton Brook.

The Trans Pennine Trail was then followed, to the left of Chorlton Ees, where a new information sign glistened brightly on the dull day.

Back at the river, we crossed via Jackson's bridge, the site of an old ferry crossing. Back in the 1960s there was a left over concrete pipe here for many years that was brilliant for launching low flying but very powerful rockets on bonfire night. It was amazing to see what Dave King and his fellow undergraduates could concoct in their chemistry lab! I also remember having to walk home on one such occasion after spending the evening in Jackson's Boat pub and hitting a kerb with such force that my front wheel was irretrievably buckled and had to be pushed home. Not as bad as the day most of the spokes on the front wheel of another bike came adrift, resulting in a tedious 'carry' from Upper Brook Street to Levenshulme, where the only water in our rented house in Drury Street was in the kitchen sink and the toilet (which was outside in the back yard).

Anyway, enough of the reminiscing, today we crossed over the bridge and doubled back to the flood defence.

Here's the route, shown in pink - about 12km with no appreciable ascent, taking us around 3 hours.

So was this experiment a success? It would appear so. The next stage will take us to Didsbury, with possible diversions due to the recent flooding of the River Mersey. I'll consult with the others regarding dates, adding anyone who wants to 'catch up' by walking stage 1 in the meantime. This will include Sue, who was unfortunately absent today as she was supporting her mother following her father's death on 3 February. I'll be suggesting that people bring refreshments to keep them going in case there is no convenient tearoom.

Sunday 9 February 2025 - Four Small Hills

Our last day at Tigh Mor. Jessica went for a walk from Brig o'Turk and the remaining eight of us - Sue, me, Julie, David, Roger Phil, Richard and Jenny went on a 16km circuit from the Glen Sherup Forestry Commission car park, a drive of nearly an hour from Tigh Mor. Russell and Alison - on a separate booking - had gone home as planned.

The main purpose of the walk was to 'bag' Julie's last 'Donald', a Donald being a Lowland hill of over 2000 feet which may or may not fall into an assortment of other 'bagging' categories. There are currently 89 such hills.

This was the coldest day of the trip, with a cold wind to make us grateful that we weren't going much over 600 metres. We were protected from the wind until we emerged from the forest in Glen Devon.

A bench had looked an enticing resting point until we noted that it was covered in ice.

We gathered together, with the long slope up to Innerdownie, the lowest of the 89 Donalds, stretching into the distance, with the summit being some way further on than the point on the horizon in the next picture.

After a while, we gathered together at the summit of Innerdownie. It was cold.

Then it was a steady stroll up to the broad summit of Whitewisp Hill, and on to Julie's unclimbed target, Tarmangie Hill.

By now we were well and truly in a cold cloud, so whilst a celebration was in order, the bottle was stashed for the time being.

Some forestry was expected. It was shown on the map and would have provided a sheltered lunch spot. Never mind, an alternative was found and the Prosecco was opened.

A little further on, a signpost encouraged us to climb a final 100 metres to the summit of Ben Shee.

After some brief glimpses to the reservoirs below, the summit of Ben Shee was a bit anticlimactic as it revealed neither a cairn nor a view.

The descent above Glen Sherup slowly drew us out of the cloud and into the relative warmth of the valley.

We doubled back to cross the Glensherup Reservoir dam to gain the track back to the car park.

We felt we had earned a spell in the sauna and the steam room, before concocting an excellent meal from leftovers.

Here's our route - 16km, 600 metres ascent, taking around 5 hours.

Then on Monday morning we said goodbye to Tigh Mor, with its turreted wings and the view to Ben Venue.

An excellent trip. Thanks to those who organised it.

Saturday 8 February 2025 - Lime Craig

The Lodge Forest Visitor Centre provided the base for a walk up to Lime Craig, above Aberfoyle, on another fine day.

This time I was joined by Richard, Jenny and Jessica, the others amongst us having decided to jettison themselves into the clouds.

The 'Red Trail' led past a statue of a lumberjill, one of many women who served in the Timber Corps in the World Wars.

We soon reached a couple of bronze deer sculptures.

There followed an area of mini sculptures below the raucous shouts of people on a Go Ape course.

Elevenses were taken on a bench by a waterfall after we had passed an impressive double waterfall and the remains of an ancient settlement. 

The trudge up to the summit was pleasant enough, with some good views down to Aberfoyle and across to Ben Venue, as well as to the north, deep into the Trossachs. 

We paused at the summit to enjoy more fine views in all directions, marred only by a persistently yapping dog.

The descent to the turning point on the Lime Craig track was steep, redeemed by the pleasure of many different shades of greenery. 

Here's the turning point.

After more steep descent on the line of an old waggonway, we found ourselves on the Rob Roy Way.

An annoying health and safety diversion around a suspect bridge brought us happily to a bird observation hide where we stopped for lunch, and to admire the residents, some of whom are shown below.

Then we spent some time in the visitor centre before heading back to Tigh Mor for a snooze.

We managed around 8km, with 300 metres ascent, in less than 3 hours.