Ashton Canal Towpath Closures

According to the TfGM web site there will be temporary closures along the Ashton Canal Towpath.

Ashton Canal Cycleway – From late January, sections of the towpath will be closed whilst resurfacing works takes place. Construction of the new towpath will be over a 14 week period, with various sections being closed at different times during the works. To plan alternative routes whilst works take place visit our journey planning pages

Unfortunately that is all the detail being given, as the link just takes you to the maps pages.

They do have a map with a little bit of information about the works, but with no useful details.



So the next place to look for this sort of information is the Canal & River Trust web site.
Here a search for any works on the Ashton Canal returns with

No results found

Which isn't very informative either.

So the towpath may be closed at some point for resurfacing work. However it isn't yet clear whether they will be removing the barriers



and the Cyclists Dismount signs



or getting rid of the dangerous cobbled sections.



Time will tell...

Ashton Canal - Stockport Branch part 1

This post covers the cycle path on the section of the infilled Stockport Branch of the Ashton Canal from Clayton Junction on the main branch of the Ashton Canal to the point where it passes under the Fallowfield Loop. This section is part of NCN route 60 and the Manchester Cycleway.

This section of path links up with Ashton Canal 2 - Ancoats to Clayton and Ashton Canal 3 - Clayton to Fairfield.

This branch of the Ashton Canal was apparently known locally as Lanky Cut. The total length of the branch was four miles and it had no locks, so the route is completely level. The canal has been infilled and this produces some changes in level, particularly at bridges.

Much of this part of the canal path was resurfaced at the end of 2013.



Cycling east along the Ashton Canal the path branches off just before the bridge that takes the towpath over the junction. If you go up onto the bridge you get to look down on the entire length of the canal that contains water.



The path starts off as narrow tarmac and after the junction it is lined by medium size trees on both sides.



It is not long before the first tank traps appear. These concrete pyramids occur in several places along the route. This first set is at the junction with Claytonbrook Road and are combined with a metal barrier beyond. These are a major obstruction to anyone on a trike or with a cycle trailer and give the path the feeling of an old defensive line from WW2.



The path now runs between modern housing estates with walls and fencing most of the time on both sides.



The next junction is with Sexa Street.



Here the access path to Sexa Street is filled in with more tank traps.



A little further along the path is obstructed by a set of large rocks. Here the gaps are reasonably wide and the recent tarmac surface is an improvement.



At this point there is an area of green space connecting through to the junction between Louisa Street and Orrell Street.



At the point where the path reaches Ashton Old Road it dips down to give enough headroom.



Here you have to watch out for the next set of tank traps in the path, just the other side of the bridge.



The surface of the path gets a bit wider here, reflecting the fact that the canal was wider at this point.



The next bridge takes the path under Ogden Lane.



South of Ogden Lane was a wide basin with the site of High Bank Mill on the left and the basin and canal depot on the right.


Map from Gorton Locomotive works website

The one remaining sign of the canal depot is the remains of the bridge that took the towpath over the basin entrance.



This section was once a very busy place, but is is now quite quiet.



Here the canal crosses the railway at Gorton Station.



To the right of here was the site of a series of reservoirs, but there is no sign of them now.



On the aqueduct over the railway line there is a clearly delineated towpath with original cobbled surface and the narrow canal basin.



South of the aqueduct the land opens up to the right with the recreation ground, whilst the housing on the left is Victorian, probably contemporary with the canal.



The location of the short canal branch to the east has been lost under modern housing at this point. Here there are some silly barriers and bollards push cycles into the mud.



Now the path crosses Hollybush Street on the level, this road was built after the canal fell out of use.



Next the path goes under Highmead Street. Here there is a dreadful set of metal barriers right underneath the bridge.



Shortly after the bridge the tarmac surface gives way to paving stones and the surface narrows. The path then deviates to the right at Alston Road where the bridge has been infilled.



South of Alston Road the path gives way to an access road with uncomfortable speed bumps that go all the way across.



The path then reaches the route of the Fallowfield Loop. Here you can go up the steep slope to the left to reach the railway path. The route of the canal continues under the railway route.



Continued in part 2

Ashton Canal 2 - Ancoats to Clayton

Continuing for just over two miles from Ashton Canal 1 - Piccadilly to Ancoats this is the point where the Manchester Cycleway joins the canal as NCN 86.



The access to this point from Old Mill Street is very poor at the moment because of the building works.



Once on the towpath the going gets a lot better. Just ahead and to the left is the former course of the Islington Branch, now a marina.



Past the lifting bridge are the new blocks of flats.



Once under under Carruthers Street, the path becomes rougher.



As you approach the bridge under Beswick Street the MERCi building is on the opposite bank.



The path surface improves beyond and after Cambrian Street, curves to the right



then after the low bridge under New Viaduct Street and the railway the path turns to the left and the football stadium comes into view.



Now there is a further flight of locks. The path up the first one is good,



but the second and third both have steep cobbled surfaces and are best walked on a small-wheeled bike.





At the next bridge the canal passes under the Alan Turing Way.



After the bridge, turn left onto the cycle track. Here NCN 86 carries on into Philip's Park and NCN 60 now joins from the Alan Turing Way. Turn left again off the cycle track and back onto the canal towpath.



The path surface is less smooth now, but still tarmaced.



You can't miss the bridge over to the velodrome.



At this point in the ride I was joined by Ian Tate, who's back now features in many of the following photographs.This point in the path, just after the Velodrome bridge is probably the entrance to the Clayton Arm of the canal.



There are several barriers and Cyclists Dismount signs along this section, but all the gates are now opened, so the barriers can all be bypassed.



Under the next bridge and the path has been recently resurfaced and widened as part of the development of the football academy on the right.



The path alongside the lock 9 has into small steps



and then by lock 10 it is cobbled again.



After lock 10 the junction with the path along the old Stockport Branch is clearly signposted. NCN 60 turns off to the right at this point whilst the Ashton canal continues over the bridge which goes over the canal junction itself.



Next section going east is Ashton Canal 3 Clayton to the Fairfield Junction, going south is the Stockport Branch Canal.



View Ashton Canal 2 in a larger map