Cycling UK Forum

Hi there

I am considering cycling from South Manchester to Birchwood near Warrington to get rid of the lard I have packed on whilst being at uni. Does anyone do this route? Any advice? Is the ship canal the way to go?

Cheers

Annie

If you have a fairly robust bike then the Trans-Pennine trail might be an option: it's not a bad route (esp. if you're starting from south Manchester), but the surface is very poor in places -- just about navigable on a road bike in summer, but I wouldn't want to try it in winter. Here's their website:
http://www.transpenninetrail.org.uk/

As far as I know, the Ship Canal doesn't have a continuous towpath (and Peel Holdings generally seem to be less friendly towards cyclists than British Waterways are -- or at least that's their reputation).

I've never been able to work out a nice on-road (but avoiding too-busy roads) route from Manchester to Warrington, so I'd be keen to hear any tips...

Annie:

I've been commuting from Sale (South Manchester) to Birchwood for the last 18 months. I was new to cycling and I spent ages planning a mostly off-road route. The main obstacle is the Ship Canal – there’s no path along it and not many places to get across it. My solution was the Pennine Way to Thelwall Village. There Kevin - the nice ferryman - will stop doing his embroidery long enough to row you across the Ship Canal (14 pence, but if you’ve not got change you can pay him next time). After that it’s through a nature reserve and then a network of cycle paths into Birchwood. This is a great route – really rural and you’d have it virtually to yourself. The Pennine way sort of wanders around South Manchester so this may or may work for you - if not then you may struggle if you want off road – the other options for getting across the Ship Canal off road are at Irlam and Latchford.

The Pennine Way is great if it’s dry but forget it if there’s been any serious rain in the last couple of days – just too muddy and slow. I wanted to step up from commuting 1-2 days a week doing it most days, all year round. You need to use a road route if that’s what you’re after so I reluctantly had to stop using the Pennine Way – Trafford Council should be ashamed of themselves they way the don’t maintain it….
As it happens, the roads aren’t too bad - I now use 2 routes through the (mostly fairly quite) back lanes between Altrincham and Warburton, Warburton toll bridge over the ship canal (free to bikes), Hollins Cross, along a track and there I am!!

It’s a great commute through lovely countryside and just the right distance to get some good exercise without arriving at work ready for a lie down.
All the above may or may not be relevant, depending on where in South Manchester you’re travelling from – if it helps then I can give you more detail.

Good luck with it

Doug

Annie,

I occasionally ride from Birchwood to South manchester, from Birchwood I go to Gorse Covert and cut through on the farm track to Glazebrook (fairly smooth though). Short bit of nasty A road then over Warburton Bridge and through Dunham Massey to Altrincham. The traffic is OK (even quiet) save the short bit from Glazebrook to Warby Bridge

If you need any more detailed advice give me a shout (the farm track takes a bit of finding)

Andy.

It depends where in South Manchester you are coming from.

Even if the ship canal had a cycle route along it (andit doesn't), it would be going in the wrong direction for you. Your main problem is getting across the canal - there are not many bridges to choose from.

If you are coming from Altrincham or Sale then head for the Warburton high level bridge. You can then enjoy the pleasure of riding past the queue of cars waiting to pay the toll (cycles are free). The climb is worth it for the view. You can then follow a track from Hollinfare to the east end of Birchwood at J11 of M62. Legally it is only a footpath, but in practice it is a reasonable vehicle track.

If you are coming from north of the M60 then it is better to cross at Eccles and follow the A57. Although this is a busy road, it is wide and cycle friendly. You can choose to ride through Irlam on the old road or round it on the new bypass then pick up the above mentioned track.

Forget the Trans Pennine Trail unless you are prepared to spend 2 hours on your commute, negotiate 27 anti-motorcycle barriers, arrive splattered in mud and think grit is an ideal chain lube. It is OK for a Sunday afternoon potter in fine weather, but a complete joke as a serious commuting route. Even if the TPT went directly to my destination I would choose to use the roads unless this involved a large detour.

from Birchwood I go to Gorse Covert and cut through on the farm track to Glazebrook (fairly smooth though)

Andy: that's exactly what I do and there's not many of us. Maybe because it's only a public right of way for walkers, although the farmers seem ok about bikes.
I'm usually going into Birchwood 8:00 ish and out again at 17:00-17:30 ish. Wonder if you're one of the 4 or 5 people I cycle past regularly?

Doug

Seems there are a few of us around. As commented above, options are limited as you get closer to Birchwood.
I regularly commute from Didsbury to Birchwood. Similar to the those above, the route I take goes via Northenden, Altrincham then via Oldfield Lane, past Dunham Massey, Warburton Bridge then along the A57 to the junction with the M6, then parallel to the M6 on Woolston Grange Road.

The stretch along the A57 isn't particularly nice - running the gauntlet of articulated trucks and the UPS parcels van racing team. I keep meaning to investigate the track mentioned above, I'll have to look at it next week.

Alternatively, as a colleague does, you could ride to one of the stations such as Oxford Road or Urmston/Flixton and use the train to avoid the A57 part.

minkie wrote:

from Birchwood I go to Gorse Covert and cut through on the farm track to Glazebrook (fairly smooth though)

Andy: that's exactly what I do and there's not many of us. Maybe because it's only a public right of way for walkers, although the farmers seem ok about bikes.
I'm usually going into Birchwood 8:00 ish and out again at 17:00-17:30 ish. Wonder if you're one of the 4 or 5 people I cycle past regularly?

Doug

My 'commute' is to Glossop, so I normally try to leave at 4 as it is around 2.5 hours ride (hence the occasional commute) I've never seen anyone other bikes on there, but regularly see farmers and as you say they dont seem to mind.

RichMoss wrote:The stretch along the A57 isn't particularly nice - running the gauntlet of articulated trucks and the UPS parcels van racing team. I keep meaning to investigate the track mentioned above, I'll have to look at it next week.

RichMoss - the track starts at the Risley junction on the M62, however you can cut through from Rockingham Close on Gorse Covert, not strictly a right of way, but it should be as it cuts out the ride along the A57 which as you say is a pain.

Presumably the best advice for anybody cycling in or arround Warrington would be to avoid the cycling farcilities, but I suppose that applies everywhere.

Wow the responses have been amazing - thank you! For clarification I am in Chorlton - only a stones throw away from Chorlton/Sale water park and the bits inbetween!

Doug (Minkie) I would definately love to hear more about your route. I definately don't have the most robust bike but I'd be keen to hear about the two road routes that you take. I would need to do some trial runs at the weekend to check the distance, how long it would take me, and to make sure I don't get lost! Do you work in the business park by any chance?

Andy M - again would love to hear more about your route

What kind of times are you guys doing it in? I would then add on an hour for me!!

Annie

Hi Annie - I've put my routes onto the CTC map page http://www.ctc-maps.org.uk/
You'll see a bit of off-road between School Lane and Rockingham - it's a 100 yards of 'informal' footpath that you take when school lane goes sharp right. School Lane is a private farm track going through 2 farmyards but it's also a public footpath - I smile politely, cycle slowly and haven't had any problems.
It's 12.5 miles - took me a massive 80 minutes the first time - usually 50-55 minutes by now. There's a lot of twists and turns so a weekend trial is a good plan. Maybe the Bridgewater canal would be good for you to get from Chorlton to Timperley.

Good luck with it and if anyone can see a better route please let us know.

minkie wrote:Hi Annie - I've put my routes onto the CTC map page http://www.ctc-maps.org.uk/
You'll see a bit of off-road between School Lane and Rockingham - it's a 100 yards of 'informal' footpath that you take when school lane goes sharp right. School Lane is a private farm track going through 2 farmyards but it's also a public footpath - I smile politely, cycle slowly and haven't had any problems.
It's 12.5 miles - took me a massive 80 minutes the first time - usually 50-55 minutes by now. There's a lot of twists and turns so a weekend trial is a good plan. Maybe the Bridgewater canal would be good for you to get from Chorlton to Timperley.

Good luck with it and if anyone can see a better route please let us know.

Thanks Minkie - it looks like you have to join to be able to use the map thingy - so will have to wait until I get paid

Do you travel from Sale though? I used to get to Sale by going through the water park - directions are not my strong point! Maybe this will help me - or I should do some orienteering!

Journey time - my commute is 18 miles taking around an hour (1 hr 6 in the headwind and rain this morning - fingers crossed for the tailwind home though)

I tried the cut through from Gorse Covert to Glazebrook on the way home last night. If you look at google maps I joined at the corner where Silver Lane becomes School Lane. The footpath from Rockingham Close was a bit muddy and brambly - a short ride and a carry across onto the track - the surface is unmetalled and generally good (a couple of areas with potholes that can be easily avoided). Being unmetalled, it isn't the cleanest in the current weather - a sort of "summer route for a winter bike". For me this route added about 8 mins onto my journey time (my office is on Birchwood Boulevard adjacent to the M6) so I'll probably stick with the A57 route for now. If my office was more towards Risley then I probably would use the track.

Annie - to investigate the route, why not take the bike by car the day before or catch the train in and use the ride home to try it out? That way you don't have to worry about being late if you have a navigational blip (and then you can use the 'weekend ride' somewhere more scenic).

When you cycle both ways, remember early on that the home journey can feel harder on the legs - a few years back I showed a friend the route and he insisted on going flat out on the way to work and then struggled on the return. Without knowing your state of fitness - it might feel hard a first, but soon you'll be flying along - I've a 'non-cyclist' colleague who started riding in this year -for him he does the 12 miles each way on one day a week. He's been really buoyed up by the way his journey time has improved.

Good luck,

Richard

I work at Risley and the route described by Rich is def the quickest from there. As he says, the track is a wee bit rough, but I ride it with my road bike without any problems.

Sorry, didn’t realise you needed to be a member to view maps. If orienteering isn’t your big thing this summary will get you started, but follow it on a map in case I miss a turn (Google Maps is good for this) and to join both ends to your starting and finishing points,
Here we go:

Part 1 Framingham Rd. Sale to Sinderland Road Altrincham.
Go down Wood Lane, footbridge over brook then turn right onto Woodhouse Lane East
Left onto Milton Drive then right onto Sylvan Ave.
Left onto Tabley Grove then right onto Greenway Rd
Right onto Park Rd then left onto Attensburys Lane
Take second footpath on the right that takes you onto Claremont Dr.
Cross Washway Road at the lights onto the new housing estate.
First exit at the roundabout, over the big bridge over the railway – this isn’t marked on maps yet, but obvious once you get there,
Right at the next roundabout and you are on Sinderland Rd.

Part 2 Sinderland Rd Altrincham to Warburton Bridge
Follow Sinderland Road without turning off.
Sinderland Road becomes Sinderland Lane – stay on it
The main drag becomes Moss Lane, with Sinderland Lane forking left – go left
Go right down Gorsey Lane
Go right along Dunham Lane
Left onto Paddock Lane
First right – still Paddock Lane
Right onto Townfield Rd
Over Warburton Bridge and then turn right at the lights onto the A57.

Part 3: Warburton Bridge to Birchwood Park
Turn left off A57 onto Manchester Rd.
Turn left onto Dam Rd.
Stay on the main drag until the tarmac ends then take the left fork (farm track through a farmyard)
Go through another farmyard.
Where track turns sharp right go past broken fence and turn right on narrow track for a few yards
Turn left onto Rockingham Close
Turn left onto Gorse Covert

Bingo - stop and light a cigar - you've made it!

What you do next depends on where in the business park your heading for – I work off Faraday St. so I go down Ordenance Avenue, which is a big, straight, empty road. As someone else said, if you work right at the M6 end of Birchwood then replace part 3 above with whatever is better for you.

Warrington council publish a good cyclists map showing quiet routes that might be worth you looking at.

Let us know how you get on.

Doug