Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal towpath walk / ride

Cycling the southern leg of the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal

10th April 2010

Easter 2010 Part 15

 Milepost No 4

 Having found the northern end of this section and met a rambler who had spent the morning walking it all the way from Salford we decided to give cycling it a crack. Whilst a short section of the canal is in water, just south of Clifton Aqueduct, it is hemmed in by chain linked fencing and exploration is not encouraged. A right of way exists, squeezed in between high fences but this soon gives way to more open ground and a dry channel.

Dry canal bed

The section has clearly been the recipient of some TLC as the canal bed is tree free and the granite walls are in surprisingly good order - just add water.

Canal at Clifton

It was almost by surprise that we came across the remains of Lumm's Aqueduct, hidden beneath brambles and lookiing much like a lock chamber till we realised we could see the path below.  This low aqueduct has been torn out, existing to give pedestrian access to the factories beyond.

Lumm's Aqueduct (remains)

Running south from here the canal returns to water and is rather attractive with its hard edgings matching the sturdy bridges which span the broadguage channel. Whilst the canal bed is in good repair, the towpath gets ever narrower and you end up riding n the 2ft wide edging stones. We tried this for a while but eventually resorted to walking when one or other of us falling down four feet to a murky bottom seemed an inevitable end.

Agecroft Road Bridge

After all the dashing about to find Clifton Aqueduct by road and path, the three miles back to Park House Bridge (now embankment) wizzed by and we found ourselves in Salford Quays a little over a hour.

Canal at Park House Bridge

Dont expect to find much at the extreme south of the manchester Bolton and Bury Canal, but the more northerly sections are well worth a wander.