[1] Following the signs to West Didsbury, Chorlton and Stretford, walk along the river bank following the Trans Pennine Trail.
(A) The River Mersey is around 70 miles (113 km) long. It starts in Stockport town centre where the rivers Goyt and Tame meet, and ends at Liverpool. It forms the boundary between the historic counties of Lancashire and Cheshire.
(B) The Trans Pennine Trail is a route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders linking the North and Irish Seas, passing through the Pennines, alongside rivers and canals and through some of the most historic towns and cities in the North of England. The Trail from coast-to-coast between Southport and Hornsea is 215 miles (346km) long. Many sections are surfaced and are suitable for families.
Bear left just before the motorway bridge and cross the road at the pedestrian crossing.
Carry straight on, again following a sign for the Trans Pennine Trail to West Didsbury, Chorlton and Stretford. Keep to the main partially surfaced path, ignoring the path through the wooden gate on the right. This area is known as Kenworthy Lane Woods. Turn right on to the road at the end of the woods, following signs for the Trans Pennine Trail to Barlow Moor, Chorlton and Stretford, and for Withington and the City Centre. Pass under the motorway bridge and keep right alongside the cycle path, crossing the river. Ignore the Trans Pennine Trail sign on the right and instead take another right turn soon afterwards. Bear right, keeping the dual carriageway on your left and a field on your right, and take the paved path on the right, Northbank Walk, between the garden hedges and the railings.
[2] Go through the gate on the right by the sign for Mersey Bank Playing Fields. Proceed to the wire fence by the river, turn left in front of a green metal shed and keep to the left of this fence. This section may be muddy. Take the path at the end of the fence, down to the riverbank and turn left along the river.
[3] Continue to follow the loop of the river as the path moves through a variety of surfaces – some sandy sections, some grass sections, some partially surfaced sections. (Note: July 2011, the footpath is closed at one point; follow diversion round United Utilities works site, turning right at Darley Avenue and right again through a metal gate to rejoin the river bank path).
[4] After approximately 1.2 miles (1.9km), as the motorway comes into view ahead above the river, turn left away from the riverbank via the steps with a handrail. Turn right along what is the drive to the Britannia Hotel. There is a picnic area on the right just before the gate. Exit through the gate of the hotel and turn left along the road. Cross with care where the footpath sign appears on the right, just past the clubhouse of Withington Golf Club.
[5] Follow this footpath sign, keeping the clubhouse on your right. Proceed down the red shale steps and take the path between the wire fence and the hedge. Do not proceed on to the golf course. Where the fence disappears, continue between the fence posts and hedge. This section may be muddy. At the end of the hedge, go up a narrow sloping path on the right and turn left along the riverbank. Ignore the green bridge ahead, initially following a sign for the Trans Pennine Trail to Didsbury and Stockport. Also ignore the path on the left down to a car park, and keep by the river, following the upper level path along the bank.
[6] At the end of the playing fields on the left, bear left at the Public Footpath sign along a partially surfaced path. Just before the tall poplar trees appear on both sides of the path, turn right into the area signed Stenner Woods. Follow the partially surfaced path ahead, keeping the ditch on your left. Remain on the main path through the woods as it bears left. This area may be muddy in places. Continue straight on across the grass area ahead, towards the surfaced path on the other side. This is a wildflower meadow, and you have now arrived at Fletcher Moss Gardens.
(C) Fletcher Moss Gardens are named after Alderman Fletcher Moss, who donated the park to the city of Manchester in 1919. It is part botanical garden and part wildlife habitat. Fletcher Moss, born in July 1843, was a philanthropist who led many public works in Manchester; in 1915 he persuaded the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to fund the construction of a public library in Didsbury.
[7] Turn right along the surfaced path. Just before the grass tennis courts, turn left on another surfaced path, and go through the gate. Bear right on passing through the gate, ignoring the steps to the left. Bear left round the pond, following the path with the railings. This is the Rockery, which is considered to be one of the highlights of Fletcher Moss Gardens. Take the steps up on the left, then follow the path along the top of the Rockery. Exit left up the steps, which are slippery after rain, and through the gate.
The building on your right contains the café, toilets and the Visitor Centre, which provides lots of information about the Fletcher Moss site.
Otherwise, bear left past the hard surfaced, disused, tennis courts and exit this part of Fletcher Moss via the gates. Turn immediately left across the front of The Didsbury pub. Cross Stenner Lane and pass through the gateway with the sculptured eagle on top.
[8] This is Old Parsonage Gardens, which is part of the Fletcher Moss site, and the area contains many large information signs about the history of the area and the plants on view. Keep ahead on the main path, passing a building adorned with palm trees. This is the Old Parsonage itself.
(D) The Old Parsonage was the residence of Alderman Fletcher Moss. Fletcher Moss Gardens was also the birthplace of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. In 1889 Emily Williamson, wife of former owner Robert Williamson, formed a group called the Plumage League, with the aim of stopping the wholesale slaughter of birds in the cause of making women’s hats. This group became the RSPB.
When you reach the path junction, take the far right hand path, passing the greenhouse on your right. Turn left at the end of this path, onto a path that passes the sign for the Herbaceous Border. Go down the steps and take the path on the left. Take the narrow path ahead, turn left then almost immediately turn right. This takes you back to the entrance of Old Parsonage Gardens, and the end of this route