[1] Leave New Mount Street to go down Ludgate Street onto Style Street. Cross Style Street to enter Angel Meadows (A) through the gate labelled St Michaels Flags.
(A) Today this is a pleasant area of green tranquillity but it has a deeply scarred past. Look for the many information boards; the site of a mass grave in the 1830s, it both shocked and inspired a figure no less than Friedrich Engels.
[2] Turn left through the park and in just a few moments leave onto Angel Street. Turn right downhill with a building site on the left to Aspin Lane. Follow Aspin Lane, past the Charter Street Ragged School, another reminder of this area’s industrial past and pass under the railway bridge finally joining Dantzic Street to walk through this now derelict area of Manchester.
(B) The river on your left is the River Irk which doubtlessly provided the power and water needed by the industry in this area 200 years ago.
[3] After passing a small factory by the river, turn right to climb up Dalton Street. This is very steep, the pavement is in poor condition and there are some overhanging bushes.
This can be avoided by continuing along Dantzic Street , to turn right into Bromley Street, finally reaching a T-junction with Rochdale Road to resume the route at Way-point 4.
After passing two newly cladded blocks of flats close together on the right, the road bends to the right to a T-junction with Rochdale Road.
[4] Cross Rochdale Road carefully and turn left. After approximately five minutes, you will pass a small funeral directors and there is a road on your right. This is Collyhurst Street, although there is no sign of the name. Turn right and follow this road to Oldham Road.
[5] Cross Oldham Road at the lights and continue straight ahead along Varley Street. You will pass the now defunct Corpus Christie Church and then the splendidly renovated Victoria Mill with its impressive chimney stack. Just past the mill there is a path on your right that leads onto the Rochdale Canal towpath (this occasionally floods).
Join the towpath and follow the canal back towards Manchester.
(C) This is a pleasant route but take care, the over abundant Canada geese have left ample evidence of their presence! There are plenty of seats along this stretch and it is a good place for a break.
To avoid any flooding, continue along Varley Street for a short distance and turn right into Holland Street, which runs parallel to the canal. At the end of Holland Street (Butler Street) turn left and then right into Woodward Street. Take care when crossing Butler Street. Take the fourth turning on the right (Woodward Place), then turn left into St. Vincent Street and finally right into New Union Street, to resume the route at Way-point 7.
[6] Pass under the bridge at Butler Street and the footbridge shortly thereafter. After the next Bridge – number 88, ignore the first steep ramp on the left and continue for a few yards to the second, much gentler one.
[7] Immediately across the road is Radium Street. Cross over and proceed along this cobbled street with the Flint Glass Wharf on your right. The third street on your left is George Leigh Street (no sign).
(D) On the corner is the old George Leigh Street School. If you look up you will note railings around the flat roof of the school. This is because the pupils used to play on the roof during their breaks, the streets around the school were far too busy.
[8] Turn left along George Leigh Street. On your right you will pass Victoria Square, large red brick building.
(E) This is known locally as ‘The Dwellings” and was seen as a seminal example of modern accommodation in its day.
Turn right into Sherrat Street to arrive at Oldham Road.
[9] Cross over Oldham Road at the traffic lights and proceed down Thompson Street opposite (caution, busy crossing with poor visabillity). At the end of Thompson Street is Rochdale Road. Turn left into Rochdale Road and look for the clearly numbered '25 Rochdale Road'. Immediately after it turn right into Ludgate Street. Turn right downhill to return to New Mount Street.