This part of the route passes through Carrington Moss, an area used by Manchester Corporation for the disposal of human waste. The area had a network of tramways which were removed during the second world war when it became a Starfish site, where decoy fires were lit to divert enemy bombers away from targets in Manchester.
This part of the route starts at Woodcote Farm where the road turns into a concrete track.
This track then passes through the more modern sewerage works
and narrows beyond.
The surface soon degrades,
and a lot of horse shit was in evidence. Unfortunately, unlike dog owners, horse riders do not feel obliged to clear up after their animals. This adds a significant amount of organic matter to the surface of the path.
There are also a number of muddy puddles as the trail turns onto the route of one of the pre-war tramways.
The path then meets the route of the main east-west tramway, and turns right.
The path is wider here and has more open views for a while before the hedges turn to trees.
Here the path turns left and drops down off the raised tramway bed.
This narrower path soon hits the first of a number of barriers.
Soon the path kinks right into woodland. Here the path is very muddy and poorly maintained.
Once you emerge from the wood, there is another barrier.
The path runs alongside fields to the left before turning right again,
and eventually reaching Carrington Lane via yet another set of barriers.
The path crosses Carrington Lane at its junction with the Carrington Spur, a very odd section of road where horses people and cycles are banned. It is only when you realise that this road only goes to junction 8 on the M60, and that it originally was going to be a dual carriageway does it make any sense. See Pathetic Motorways for the rest of the story.
The next section of the Trans Pennine Trail continues along Banky Lane.
View TPT part3 in a larger map
Some of the sustrans volunteers have spent a few weeks along here cutting back plants and overhanging trees. I think the over hanging trees are one source of the problem where the mud is concerned. It is slow going. When I helped out, there were only 4 of us equipped with whatever tools people would muster. Its a shame the council don't value it as a resource and help maintain it.
ReplyDelete"Its a shame the council don't value it as a resource and help maintain it."
DeleteThis seems to be a problem all across our area with the NCN. Paths are built with public money, but it goes to waste when there is no money for maintenance.
As a Trafford resident, I am sad to say this section of a national cycle route is in a very sad state. I would suggest people leave the route at Broadheath and take the excellent canal towpath to Stretford.
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