Monday 17 March 2025 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 2 - Sale Water Park to Didsbury

Eight of us plus Rufus turned up on a cool morning at Sale Water Park Metrolink station for this second stage of the GM Ringway walk. I reported on Stage 1 here. Sadly Rick had to miss out today due to an important appointment, but I think he walked it earlier so he can rejoin the group for Stage 3 on 16 April.

Sue and I had disembarked from the tram at Dane Road, and walked 2km through Sale Ees, over the 12 lane motorway, and past Sale Water Park and the Visitor Centre (ignoring the cafe!) to reach the start. Probably as quick as going by tram via Cornbrook or Trafford Bar.

A familiar sign pointed us back to Jackson's Bridge on the same path as we took on the finish to Stage 1, though I'm not sure how many of us recognised that!

We noted some diversions due to recent storms. Something to bear in mind...

A couple of group photos were taken after we'd strolled along the banks of the Mersey and headed around Chorlton Water Park to a convenient point for the pictures above and below.

Both Sale and Chorlton Water Parks were created from gravel pits used in the construction of the nearby motorway. Here the banks of the Mersey are lined with Butterbur at this time of year, giving way to orchids and summer flowers before swathes of Autumn Crocuses are a sign of the shorter days to come.

There's lots of wildlife to be seen on and near the Water Park. The ducks, including the Coot and a young Mute Swan pictured below, are clearly used to being fed by humans.

The cafe at the eastern end of Chorlton Water Park was sadly closed (Monday's aren't good for cafes), and here we were reminded of a bridge closure.

A fairly dramatic 'closure'! The Bailey Bridge that has been here for generations is not just 'closed', it is completely gone. None of us felt inclined to attempt to follow the GM Ringway route through Kenworthy Wood.

Instead, we stuck to the banks of the Mersey as it headed on to pass under Princess Parkway and rejoin the 'official' route as it emerged from the Kenworthy Wood section.

An unusual sight on the River Mersey was a pair of Mandarin Ducks, perhaps washed down from the River Goyt at Brabyns Park.

 

Goosanders and Mallards were also busy on the river just here, but there was no sign of the Mink that we have seen whilst playing with Isabella on a nearby beach.

Continuing along the riverside path, we came across a sign of the destruction caused by the January storms. Part of the southern embankment has been washed away and has been replaced by sandbags.

Further on, a longer section of destruction.

We arrived at the second of the path closures referred to at the start of this stage. My companions continued over the 'closed' section, so I followed. A serious breach had occurred here, and more sandbags have been used to temporarily shore up the embankment. I don't think our crossing this section did any damage, and it was clear the the 'closed' signs were being ignored. It wasn't as if we had to wade across the river!

We left the riverside to take what amounts to a shortcut, eliminating a big loop in the river, negotiating our way through a woodland ginnel, crossing Palatine Road, and entering the realm of Withington Golf Club. Here, Viv and Steve, noted that there has been much reparation from the floods, which apparently washed the contents of allotments onto the golf course.

A narrow path leads beside the course, and the river (just visible on the right of the picture above) soon renews its acquaintance with us shortly before Simon's Bridge, which dates back to 1901. Here it is in 2021, just avoiding being inundated.

The 2021 storm didn't cause as much destruction as this January's storm, as the banks of the Mersey held firm in 2021, albeit my son 's family were evacuated from East Didsbury at the time, whereas this year they were safe at home,

The rugby club is still a scene of destruction. I'm not sure what the 'parkrun' sign is doing here.

From near the same spot on Stenner Lane, the view across to the black plastic sandbag containers indicates that there's still a fair amount of clearing up from the January storms to be done.

The poplar trees on the path that is used to start Fletcher Moss parkrun seem to have been oblivious to the storm. Perhaps because they have massive, shallow, root systems.

Our route led back to briefly rejoin the river at the end of another closed section, before leaving it for good and heading through the meadows of Fletcher Moss, over a boardwalk, and past Fletcher Moss Park to a cafe for lunch. Excellent soup for £6.

Then a short walk featuring Didsbury Park, familiar to Sue and me as it's the closest park to our granddaughter's house, to the end of Stage 2 at Didsbury Village tram stop and an easy journey home.

Here's the route, shown in blue - about 10km (plus 2km for me and Sue) with no appreciable ascent, taking us around 3 hours. (Click on the image for a better version/slideshow.)

Well, that counts as another success. Stage 3 is planned for Wednesday 16 April, starting at 11:00am from Didsbury Village Metrolink Station and finishing in Bramhall, from where it should be easy enough to get public transport back home.

Next Stage
Index

Owen turns 40

Here's Owen, completing his 247th parkrun on 15 March, a great achievement and a tribute to the support he has had from numerous supporters who have guided him round the 5km course. He does know the way, but he needs to be accompanied.

Owen's 40th birthday party, organised by his mum, was held on 16 March at the LMRCA Railway Club at Navigation Road. It was loud. Some of those with worn out eardrums, of whom I was one, had difficulty hearing very much, but thoughts of leaving early evaporated as the partygoers enjoyed themselves and serious attempts to converse were made.

Owen is one of a wide community of adults with learning difficulties of one type or another. Many of his friends and carers from that community, as well as a good number of his parkrun friends and his family, including his sister from Australia, were present. It was a very jolly occasion.

There came a point when a speech was required.

With a little help from Jenny, his mum, and his words started to flow. An excellent speech.

A long time teacher/carer then spoke a few words in tribute to the lad he has been supporting for the last 20 years.

YMCA is clearly a favourite.

It was a pleasure to be invited to this joyous occasion. We left feeling a little better in this fractured world.

Saturday 15 March 2025 - Wythenshawe parkrun #610

Just a couple of pictures in celebration of it being warm enough to enjoy our post run coffees in the sunny courtyard. Full results are here, but the main event was Owen's 40th birthday - for which the next entry will be devoted. It just happened to be my 400th parkrun.

Diary Update

Thursday 6 March - crocuses in Solihull, before Sue's father's funeral, which went as planned apart from the unexpected illness of one of the mourners.

Friday 7 March - a lovely day with Isabella.

Saturday 8 March - Wythenshawe parkrun #609. 318 participants. 37:37 for me after I decided to walk after the first 2.5km lap. Full results are here.

Briefing from a DofE student

Volunteers getting ready to man the finishing line

318 fit easily onto the start line

The Barbers were out in force, with Frankie having returned from Vancouver for a few days.

Sunday 9 March - Wythenshawe Community Run - a 5km jog with Colin Davies. 33:46 for 5km today.

March 8 - 15 - a trip to Finland for Sue. She has sent me the following pictures and may in due course provide a separate diary entry. Envious? Yes!

Wednesday 12 March - Paul, Jeanette and Rufus joined me for a pleasant 10km Bollin Valley wander. A familiar route previously reported on here. 

Today the Bollin was calm and the hedgerows were showing the first signs of spring, though the weather is cooler this week.

At Ashley Hall some 'Tatton Studios' have appeared - a potato barn and a barley barn, but who knows their actual purpose?

Thursday 13 March - admin and TGO Challenge route vetting duties. 

Friday 14 March - a bit of planning.

Here's a summary of some walks and bike rides I'm planning. They are detailed on topwalks.com, and that web page will be updated for any changes. I'll try to add some travel tips for the GM Ringway stages. All welcome.

Monday 17 March
GM Ringway Trail - Stage 2 - Sale Water Park to Didsbury Village. Meet at 11:00am at

Sale Water Park metrolink station for this second 12km stage of the 20 stage circuit 

of Greater Manchester.

Monday 31 March
Stocks Reservoir circular walk. Meet at School Lane car park, Dalehead, near Slaidburn (SD 546 455) at 11:00am for a 11km stroll around the reservoir.

Friday 11 April
60km circuit: Timperley Bridge (meet there at 9:00am) > Bridgewater Canal > Stretford > Trans Pennine Trail > Peak Forest Canal > Ashton Canal > Manchester > Timperley.

Wednesday 16 April
GM Ringway Trail - Stage 3 - Didsbury Village to Bramhall Station. Meet at 11:00am 

at Didsbury Village metrolinkfor this third 12km stage of the 20 stage circuit of 

Greater Manchester.

Thursday 24 April

A 70km circuit starting at 9:00 from Timperley Bridge. Bridgewater Canal 

> Pennington Flash > Mucky Mountains Nature Reserve > Sankey Valley > 

Trans Pennine Trail > Timperley.

Wednesday 30 April

Willington. A circuit of a length suitable for those attending, but at least 5km, 

from the Sandstone Trail car park at Willington Corner 0.5km southeast of 

Kelsall (SJ 534 667). Start at 10am.

Friday 9 May

GM Ringway Trail - Stage 4 - Bramhall Station to Middlewood Station. 

Meet at 11:00am at Bramhall Station for this fourth 13km stage of the 

20 stage circuit of Greater Manchester.

Thursday 5 June

Silverdale. A walk starting around 10:30am from RSPB Leighton Moss 

(members only car park) after refreshments in the cafe. 

Adjustable route, up to 23km.

Wednesday 11 June

GM Ringway Trail - Stage 5 - Middlewood Station to Strines Station. 

Meet at 11:00am at Middlewood Station for this fifth 13km stage of the 

20 stage circuit of Greater Manchester.

Sunday 20 July

Hathersage Hilly Triathlon.

7 to 17 September
Collett's Mountain Holidays - Austrian Alps - Ehrwald.

Sunday 7 December

The Tatton Yule Yomp - a 10km gallop around Tatton Park, starting at 9:30am.

Sunday 14 December

A Christmas Walk - provisionally starting at 10.00am from outside the 

Lime Lounge Coffee House in Bakewell (SK 218 686, by the bridge), 

stopping at The Crispin in Great Longstone for lunch.