[1] Turn left when leaving the visitor centre and continue through the Vale keeping the river on your right. You will pass a metal footbridge and an old stone bridge. Ignore them and eventually after half a mile you will reach a green metallic bridge just before a pond. Cross the river via this bridge and continue along the main track as it bends round to the left (ignoring the path climbing up some steps on your left).
This lovely valley has a mixed history but has been regenerated over the last twenty years or so and today can claim a Green Flag. Seventeen species of butterfly and nearly fifty species of bird have been recorded here.
[2] You will reach the end of the Vale in about 300 yards. Exit under the former railway arches onto a very wide road; Bank Bridge Road. Cross this road with care to enter Riverpark Road. Proceed along the left hand side of this road for about 250 yards until you reach a gap in the wall on your left. Go through this gap, ignoring entrances to the cemetery on either side of you, and go straight ahead into Bank Bridge Meadow. In May this meadow is usually full of flowers. Halfway through the meadow take the right hand fork in the path to head towards Philips Park (A) opened in 1846.
[3] On reaching the park turn right and follow the path for just over 200 yards until you reach a junction of five paths. Take the second left towards, then round the pond, passing the Peace Garden on your right. When you reach the top of the slope follow the path right to leave the park.
[4] You are now on Stuart Street. Cross over and go to the right of the big, round building on the other side of the road. This takes you on to the towpath of the Ashton Canal. Turn right and head towards Manchester city centre. Keeping the canal on your left you will go under a bridge then, just before another bridge, leave the canal by the path on your right. At the top of the path turn left towards the City of Manchester Stadium; As you reach the car park turn immediately right and head toward the City Walk. Follow this towards Holts Town and the City Centre – both signposted.
(B) The Ashton Canal built in 1796 which goes from Piccadilly basin to Ashton-under Lyne. From there it joins the Huddersfield and Peak Forest canals offering a variety of walks for the keen rambler.
(C) The stadium was built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and is now the home of Manchester City FC.
[5] The National Squash Centre is now on your left, then a running track. On your right the Metro Link to Droylsden is being built. You will shortly pass under a bridge and on your right is a short right of way across the Metro Link workings. This takes you over the River Medlock into a pleasant meadow, a somewhat surprising find. Watch out for sand martins hunting over the river. If for any reason this right of way has been closed there is an alternative route 1.
[6] Follow the path through the Meadow taking the left fork well before the canal to leave onto Upper Helena Street. There now follows a half mile walk through the remnants of industrial Ancoats (D) – all junk yards, ferocious dogs and tired old mills. At the end of Upper Helena Street cross Cambrian Street with (caution busy road) and proceed along Pollard Street East which is opposite diagonally right. At the end of Pollard Street East turn right and cross Beswick Street – again with care – just over the canal bridge. On this side of the road you can get onto the canal down a few short steps.
Alternative route 1: If the right of way over the Metro link is closed proceed straight ahead to come out on Holt Street. Turn right at the end of Holt Street and go up Beswick Street to the join the canal just past Pollard Street East as per the directions above.
[7] Turn left along the canal so it is on your right. You will shortly pass under Viaduct Street. Here the canal goes under the street and a railway line whilst passing over the river; one of those clever feats of nineteenth century engineering. As you go beyond the point where you joined the canal earlier you will see an Asda superstore built just prior to the 2002 Commonwealth Games and at that time the largest Asda Walmart in Europe.
After passing under Ashton New Road, you will see a large industrial wasteland on your right. If the canal is closed here for Metro maintenance work, see Alternative route 2.
(E) From 1876 until 2007, this wasteland was the site of Clayton Analine, one of the oldest dye factories in the UK. In its heyday it employed more than a thousand local people.
[8] Immediately after the waste land you will go under a bridge to reach lock number 9 of the canal. Leave the canal here by going up the steps by the lock to Clayton Lane. Turn right along the road towards Ashton New Road, in front of you is the splendid St Cross Church (F). Cross over this road using the pedestrian lights and carry on along Clayton Lane with the church on your right. Between the church grounds and a children’s play area turn right along a footpath and after some 50 yards turn right again. The path now takes you round Clayton Hall said to be the seat of the De Clayton family since the 12th century, eventually leading you out on to Clayton Hall Road.
Alternative route 2: If you have to come off the canal at Asda you will need to cross the car park to the far end of the store, go down the steps on to Ashton New Road where you can turn left and follow the road to St Cross church at the junction of Clayton Lane and Ashton New Road. Here you can rejoin the walk as described above. Note that Ashton New Road bends to the right after 800 yards – take care not to go up North Road.
[9] Turn left along Clayton Hall Road to North Road where you turn right. Cross North Road at the pedestrian lights and turn almost immediately left into Vale Street. Follow Vale Street to its end where it leads to a path on to Clayton Vale. This takes you down into the Vale to an old bridge over the river. Cross the river and turn right, keeping the river on your right, follow the path for around 500 yards to a green footbridge over the river. Cross the footbridge and return to the visitor centre.