10 and 13 December 2025 - Around Altrincham and Wythenshawe

We'd not seen Ernst and Bianca for some time, so we enjoyed a couple of hours with them on 10 December. Sue and I walked towards their house along the towpath, past the Linotype Works buildings that have mostly been converted to housing, until we reached a policeman. "Go back, there's a body in the canal" he said. We were very lucky not to be the ones to discover it. Ten minutes earlier...

So we retraced our steps and reached Seamons Bridge via Broadheath. We were soon joined by Ernst and Bianca, for a short walk along the towpath to Dunham.

The picture above seems to have blurred everything except Ernst, who is happy at having been made captain of Sale Sharks rugby team and has had his contract extended by three years to 2029. This has motivated the couple to buy a house, on which they should complete soon. Well done them.

We left the canal to pass by Little Heath Farm, after which we went through the golf course and Devisdale, where the next two pictures were taken.

Our timing was perfect, as we reached SO Marrakech in Altrincham in time to enjoy coffees and croissants before Bianca headed off to another engagement. It was great to see the two of them happy with life, and now even happier as Sale beat French opposition - Clermont Auvergne - at the weekend, when players and their families were treated to a chartered flight in order to simplify travel arrangements.

Saturday morning was dry. Sue and I drove to Wythenshawe Park for their parkrun #644 on a surprisingly sunny day. The sun rose as we milled about at the start. With just 244 people taking part, numbers were well below the summer figures of around 400.

Run Director Richard set us off after the fastest ever briefing.

Afterwards, the usual socialising, and sorting of bar codes that hadn't arrived when the next picture was taken.

At least the bar code tokens were dry today! Full results are here.

Wednesday 20 November 2024 - Around Dunham

This afternoon we had the pleasure of catching up with Bianca and Ernst, with whom we enjoyed a 6km stroll from their house to Altrincham, via Seamons Bridge, the canal towpath, Little Heath Farm by the Axe and Cleaver pub, then Dunham golf course and Dunham New Park.

Late afternoon sun made for a dazzling stroll along the towpath from Seamons Bridge to the next bridge along the canal.

Swans glided past, much to the surprise of Bianca and Ernst. But they do live here!

Some of these pictures have been provided by Bianca and Ernst. My camera has seen far too much use recently!

We stopped at the Little Heath Farm shop, then passed the Axe and Cleaver to reach the school building that was erected in 1759.

Across the road, St Mark's church, with its delicate spire.

Winter greens

Apparently an old oak tree like this one can be home to up to 1000 different species.

Eventually we joined the main road near St Margarets, where Sue is one of the regular bellringers.

Then we strolled into Altrincham and enjoyed refreshments at So Marrakech.

So ended a most enjoyable 'blue sky' day.

Monday 18 December 2023 - Dan's Christmas Pubrun 2023

This was an event organised by Dan, one of Wythenshawe parkrun's run directors. Apparently he's been doing this for a few years.

I set off from Timperley Station ten minutes before 55 others, and I made it to the Swan just as the back markers were catching up with me.

After a couple of drinks in the crowded pub, we headed up to Dunham Massey Hall for a group photo.

Then we set off for Altrincham.

I soon found myself at the back of the pack, and I missed the snicket into the golf course. So I missed the Altrincham boozer (I wasn't sure where they were going) and headed directly to the Moss Trooper, back in Timperley. Numbers had diminished to the 20s or 30s by the time they arrived there, but the die-hards were intent on getting hangovers. An enjoyable evening was had by all. When we left we hardly noticed the steady rain...

Here's my 14km route. Everyone else went through the golf course.

Saturday 2 December 2023 - Wythenshawe parkrun #549, and Around Timperley and Altrincham

Volunteer marshal Sam arrives bright and early

The sharp frost didn't put paid to Wythenshawe's parkrun, where the 'Flag and Sandcastle' course proved a good choice. 

The crowds - some 243 runners and 25 volunteers - gathered at the start.

We got going soon after 9am, and quickly spread out as the runners made their way around the perimeter of the 'flag'.

One disadvantage of this course is that the finishing straight is much longer than usual.

The full results are here. No records were broken, I was only lapped by one person, but we enjoyed the outing, with Wythenshawe Hall sparkling in the sunshine.

We were thrown out of the tea room when Rufus was spotted nestling comfortably on Paul's lap, so our coffees were consumed outdoors, before Sue and Jan went off to other commitments, and Paul and I adjourned to the friendly, dog welcoming Di Martino Caffé in Timperley, for better coffee and delicious cake.

On Sunday I was due to volunteer as a marshal for the Community run at Wythenshawe, but 'Health and Safety' intervened, so Sue and I enjoyed a 5km stroll from home, through De Quincey Park to Stamford Brook, and back via the canal towpath.

De Quincey Park

The crispy weather has continued. There was no risk today of being hit by a golf ball on my walk to Altrincham.

King George V Pool was still frozen over, with coots and moorhens visibly practicing their skating techniques.

In Altrincham, a large specimen of 'graffiti has appeared in front of some closed shops. (Click on the image for a better view.)

Lockdown 2020 (continued)

 

Lockdown continues. Life is restricted, but not without pleasures. The Bridgewater Canal, early in the morning, was a delight to run or cycle beside this week, the above picture being taken near the Bay Malton (long closed), on one of my regular bike rides.

 

Below, King George V Pool in Altrincham is as full of weed as ever. The coots seem overwhelmed by it. I jogged around it in Wednesday afternoon's heat, on my way for coffee in Stamford Park with Paul B - very pleasant but not as comfortable as Paul's garden , just round the corner, would have been. Not allowed though. I surprised Andrew and Joe and friends, fishing in the pool (do they ever catch anything?) whilst awaiting their A Level results. (Later - success - they both got the highest grades available and are into their chosen Universities. Well done them, even if they didn't catch any fish.)

 

 

The jungle that masquerades as our garden continues to mature, with JJ's tomato plants heading to obscure the view from our living room window.

 

 

 

We visited Mike and Sarah in Didsbury yesterday, on a bike ride, keeping our distance at the edge of their abode - all is well and their garden could soon look like ours?!

 

As we are unable to see our grandchildren except on neutral ground, we cycled to meet them today at Tatton Park, where we went for a bike ride with them whilst their mum looked after Rocko - Simon's nervous dog.

 

It rained, so shelter was sought under a tree.

 

 

 

I tried to introduce J and J to the names of some birds. I think they recognise 'Swan', and just in case this posting ever comes to their attention, I'll name some of the others in this photo as Mallards, Coots, Canada Geese and (diving) Great Crested Grebes.

 

 

Then we turned around and went back to find mummy and Rocko. On the way we bumped into Joe's dad, on a 20 mile run. He chatted for a while, then sped off. In this next picture, you can make out the screen for the drive-in cinema; we went last Sunday. An interesting experience...

 

 

Q: "When can we come and stay at your house?"

A: "We don't know. And we are afraid we've had to cancel next weekend's trip to Center Parcs."

 

But if those are our only problems, we are doing well. Our thoughts are with those more seriously affected by the pandemic.

Thursday 18 June 2020 - A Walk around Timperley and Brooks Drive

 

Sue and I had planned a walk from home today. We woke to rain, that seemed to be forecast all day, so we went out anyway. As I write this (3 pm), it's still raining, so our 8 am departure was a good move. No social distancing was necessary, as we hardly encountered a soul.

 

We started along the canalside path that is accessed from the platform of Timperley Metrolink station. A couple of rowers passed us as we strolled along the bramble lined path.

 

After a while a bridge is reached, from where the next two pictures were taken. This is where teenagers sometimes hang out in the shelter of the steps up to the parapet. A new sign encourages folk to pick up their dog s**t and take that and any other litter home. There was no evidence this morning of anyone disobeying that guidance.

 

 

 

We took a very convoluted route across a meadow to Northern Moor, then made our way laboriously to Brooks Drive, a thoroughfare dating from the 1860s that has now sadly been blocked by residents at the Hale Barns end of the road. Their claims that it is a private road that they have the right to close are being contested by those who have evidence to support it having been used by the public since it was built.

 

Here's Sue, on the pleasant Brooks Drive footpath near Wythenshawe hospital.

 

I've described a shorter way of getting to this point in an earlier report, here. That walk, in December 2017, follows more or less the same route as today's venture from here onwards. There's a big difference in conditions - no mud today, just wet grass.

 

 

The fields leading to Davenport Green weren't muddy, but the rain and wet grass did eventually take their toll on our trail shoes.

 

 

The route goes past a garden centre - Dobbies, formerly Wyevale - where Sue was convinced that the café would be open. A quick trail around the deserted one-way system in the shop revealed no such luck, so we continued on through Altrincham Golf Course to the George V Pool on the edge of Altrincham. There's lots of bird life here. Can you spot the coot's nest in the next picture?

 

 

Here it is from a closer viewpoint. Beneath the bird, unseen in the picture, are a bevvy of red-billed youngsters nestling under their parent.

 

 

I'll have to return there for some bird pictures with a better camera. From there (near the 'A' of Altrincham on the route map below) it's an easy 20 minute stroll home, where coffee and hot cross buns were our reward for a wet but satisfying 18 km walk in a little over three hours.