Rochdale Canal (M/C to Failsworth) & Bridgewater Canal (Sale)

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

So as not to hijack the other thread, I have started a new one...

What is the towpath like between M/C (New Union Street I think) and Failsworth please?
Also we seem to have a touch of the Bridgewater Canal as well where it is route 82 through Sale.

I have had a quick look at some of the geograph and google images and it seems OK, but thought I had better double check.

We would be on road bikes, but are fine with some hardcore and a touch of mud - not in any rush... plan is to cycle over to family in Failsworth on Sunday and come home again same day - roughly 75-80 miles...

 

[dan_bo]

Rubbish.

Honestly take an AK.

It's like the freaklin' wild west. But in the east.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

thanks - I'' probably re-route. we are coming back via one of those railways (and a converted canal...) I was just looking for something different on the way out... guess it won't be those then...

 

[dan_bo]

Only jokin!

It's fine. Just watch the cobbly bits they can be a bit slippy.

 

[Richard Fairhurst]

The surface is ok. A little broken up in sections, but nothing too bad. There are runs of cobbles by some of the locks where you'll probably want to dismount and push.

I think broken glass would be your main worry: it's not all the most salubrious area, and last time we boated through Newton Heath there was some suspicious white powder on the lock beams...

Oh, and watch for flooding. Here's my father-in-law lockwheeling in Ancoats on my old folding bike (the Croque de Merde):

As for the Bridgewater, the sections that have been upgraded as part of the Bridgewater Way (route 82) are fine, the rest is borderline uncyclable except on an MTB.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

- last time I walked it it was crap - but that was many years ago when going ot the allotment somewhere down that way, and the other way was not much better but that was before all the money came in and it was 'done' up... it must be a while since my in-law's dog died...

 

[wintergreen]

You should be fine on the Rochdale canal from Manchester to Failsworth. As has already been mentioned broken glass would be the biggest problem. The scenery isn't the most pleasant but its better than busy roads.
The stretch of Bridgewater through Altrincham and Sale is well looked after and has a good surface.

 

[potsy]

You should be fine on the Rochdale canal from Manchester to Failsworth. As has already been mentioned broken glass would be the biggest problem. The scenery isn't the most pleasant but its better than busy roads.
The stretch of Bridgewater through Altrincham and Sale is well looked after and has a good surface.

Was on the Sale to Altrincham stretch today and just to say the towpath is currently closed at the Marsland road/Brooklands road turn off, not looked if this is on your route Satnav but just a heads up in case.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Was on the Sale to Altrincham stretch today and just to say the towpath is currently closed at the Marsland road/Brooklands road turn off, not looked if this is on your route Satnav but just a heads up in case.

thanks will double check that... goes off to look up road names...

 

[potsy]

thanks will double check that... goes off to look up road names...

http://www.bridgewatercanal.co.uk/boating/stoppages/stoppage.aspx?ID=156

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

yep that was where we were planning on getting onto it... but from the PDF it looks like closure runs south of Marsland Rd? We were going on at Marsland Rd, heading north....

 

[potsy]

yep that was where we were planning on getting onto it... but from the PDF it looks like closure runs south of Marsland Rd? We were going on at Marsland Rd, heading north....

Ah good, you'll be fine then