[1] Come out of the centre and walk towards the toilets and formal flower bed. With your back to the toilets walk down the path between the rose bed and the children’s play area.
[2] The path curves round in front of the Community Orchard.
(A) It is worth going in to look at the willow framework - mind your head though.
[3] Continue along the path in front of the orchard. It passes two pieces of fence on the right hand side, covered in plants. These are screens to stop golf balls from the pitch-and-putt hitting passers-by or going into the reservoir. Keep your eyes peeled for flying golf balls, despite the screens!
Continue until you get to a low hedge on both sides of the path, and you see a gap in the left hand hedge. Go through the gap and up a rather muddy path to a sign board and gate. Go through the gate. You are now on the upper reservoir dam.
[4] Turn left and walk along the dam.
(B) Note the gap in the hedge on your right, where you can get a good view of the reservoir. On a clear day you can see the Pennines far beyond the water. You also get a good view down the lower reservoir from the other side of the path.
Continue along the dam, over the overflow. Our route goes straight on up the hill. Take the first wide path left behind the Donkey Sanctuary.
(C) You may see donkeys either in a fold behind the centre or in paddocks by the path. Don’t feed the donkeys – they can bite!
[5] The path goes on towards the allotments; it is easy to go through some uninviting gates. Pass an electricity substation and through another set of gates to come out on the old railway now a footpath and cycle way. Listen and look out for bikes!
(D) Up until the 1960’s, main line trains ran along this line from Manchester to Sheffield. Then a new electrified service was put in from Manchester to Sheffield and this line was electrified as far as Reddish Loc sheds.
[6] Turn left and walk 60 yards (approx 55 metres) along the old railway, until a ramp goes off on your right. Go down this to the old canal.
(E) No, it doesn’t look much like a canal, but it was once! It was built in 1793 as a link from the Ashton Canal to Stockport, to take coal out, and bring cotton in. However it stopped short of Stockport town centre, stopping at Lancashire Hill. It closed to traffic before the Second World War. When it was filled in during the 1960s, Manchester Council turned it into an urban walk way. Sadly Stockport Council did not protect it as a right of way. It was also used as the cycle route from the Commonwealth Games (2002) Athletes Village at Fallowfield to East Manchester and the Stadium.
[7] Turn left through the tunnel and you will come out onto the dam for the lower reservoir. At the far end is the Water Sports Centre.
[8] Go past it, straight across the car park and into the park to follow the path leftwards, in front of Debdale House to return to your starting point.