[1] Exit the library (Levenshulme Library was built by donations from the Scottish philanthropist Andrew Carnegie), and turn right, walk along Cromwell Grove (mind the uneven pavement), past Chapel Street School. Turn right into Chapel Street park and walk straight down the main path towards the children’s play area.
(A) The park has a remarkabe number of different trees, ash, beech, sycamore, horse chestnut, elderberry, hawthorn, and flowering ornamental trees like cherry and crab apple. Great for Autumn colours.
[2] On reaching the children’s play area go out through the gates into Chapel Street. Turn left and walk along Chapel Street to the end. Go past Lincoln and Garfield Avenues, and come out onto Broom Lane. This is a very busy road, so take great care crossing as you want to go into Highfield Road, immediately opposite.
[3] About 30 meters down Highfield Road it swings left. Follow the road to the end. At the end, pass some railings in front of Levenshulme Allotment Holders' hut and go over the old railway bridge.
[4] Immediately over the bridge turn left (for push chairs see alternative route) and walk along the top looking down on the walkway on the old railway line. You will pass some allotment pens on your right.
(B) Often there are free range eggs for sale here, and you may see into a pen where horses are kept.
Just after the pens the path gets a little narrow for push chairs. This can be avoided, by turning right at the bridge [4] and immediately going down steps to the walkway below. You walk parallel to the upper path and rejoin at [6]. Unfortunately, you won't have the views, or the chance to see hens and horses.
[5] At the end of the short narrow bit you come out on to Nelstrop Road (an old ancient highway, which marks the boundary between Manchester and Stockport). You cross straight over and go down the ramp way to join the lower footpath on the old railway line (this is a cycle path – look out for cyclists!).
[6] Go under the water pipes, bringing water from the Lake District to Manchester and continue along the old railway line.
[7] Go under Longford Road West Bridge. The area ahead is a little scruffy, and rather rough for prams, so for an easy access option, just after the bridge turn right and go up to the Longford Road West bridge, once in the road turn right towards a roundabout and continue from instruction number [10] where you can rejoin the walk.
[8] Just before the next bridge, Station Road, a track goes off to the left, it is wide, but part blocked with rubble and fairly rough. Go round the rubble and then bear left and follow the track until you see Station Road ponds. This area is great for wild life; squirrels, butterflies, swans, ducks and coots may all be seen.
[9] The path goes first left and then right alongside the pond, super (the sides of the ponds are slippery and small children should be closely supervised) and then left onto part of Nelstrop Road. Follow this road, going round a traffic barrier and then the metal fence in the corner, to arrive at the roundabout on Longford Road.
[10] Cross Longford road at its junction with Barlow Road.
Alternative short-cut: Here you can turn right and go straight back to the library via Barlow Road and Cromwell Road. However, please note, the pavements are rather rough and narrow here and you need to cross carefully at the traffic lights because of turning traffic.
Continue up Nelstrop Road to the bridge over the old railway. Here, turn left and walk down the ramp and then left under Nelstrop Road. Follow the old railway line to the next bridge (cycle-path – look out for cyclists!). Just under this bridge is a set of steps on your left. These would offer a way back to the library, but with push chairs continue as described below.
[11] Continue along the old railway line until you see a footbridge. Cross over using the footbridge. The path then goes between houses, by a stream to come out on Broom Lane. This is a very busy road, traffic come in spurts, due to traffic lights at either end. So turn right along Broom Lane, crossing Cranage Road, until you come to number 132. This is the point to cross the road, since it gives you the best view of the traffic in both directions. On the other side of the road is Bubble haven.
[12] Turn right and walk past three new houses, until an alley way opens on your left. Go down the alley into Rawdon Close, and then out of the Close into Chapel Street. Cross Chapel Street and go down Lincoln Avenue for about thirty yards before you can go into Chapel Street Park. Go past the old changing rooms, round the bowling green, and out onto Barlow Road, and then left back to the library.