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Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

A lovely route to walk especially after leaving stockport along the river Mersey.

Onto the Tranpennine route 62 good access, wheelchairs and prams would be fine, some steps but large enough and not too steep to get access.

You now enter Mersey Vale Nature Park. Nice quiet easy walk lots of joggers and dog walkers.

Mostly firm ground, gravel and tarmac, through Didsbury along Parrs Wood Lane crossing the road past Tesco onto an off road path.

Plenty of green space and places to rest. I would definitely do this walk again for recreation.

I would never have thought that in this very developed part of the city, there'd be such a green and pleasant route. Large parts of this follow the Transpennine Trail - the route is about half paved, half wide well-maintained dirt track (but would be bumpy if you were e.g. pushing a pram). Occasional obstacles like steps and A-frames.

The part along the river is nice, but views of the water itself are often obscured by trees. I preferred the part through Mersey Vale.

A great route mainly following an old railway line and the river Mersey between Didsbury and Stockport. Option to take in more of the river if you head south at green pastures. Mostly firm ground, gravel and tarmac, all well drained but often some puddles when wet on the first section next to the tram line.

This route leaves Didsbury Village Metro Station along a quiet street, crosses the tracks and follows the tram line to East Didsbury Metro Station, with tunnels under Kingsway (A34) and Parrs Wood Lane. A landscaped, tree lined path crosses Meltham Road (anti-bike barriers) and on reaching Station Road follows the pavement for 350 yards / 0.3 km to Craig Road, then two sets of steps lead up an embankment.

The route now enters Mersey Vale Nature Park, with the path on compacted earth. The surface was stable but with some tree roots, and I had shallow puddles and thin mud.

At a crossroads with half – buried millstones the path takes a right turn, then another right down a flight of shallow steps, then doubles back under the M 60 motorway.

Here the path joins the Trans-Pennine Trail along the north bank of the Mersey, with a tarmac surface, plentiful benches and a picnic area. After directly crossing the paved area of the old Brinksway bridge the path drops down under Hollywood Way – just yards from the Pyramid, (of Roundabout fame). At a large curved metal bench, this route takes the least noticeable path behind the bench, staying close to the river, with the Stockport viaduct in sight. Steps lead up to the road: turn right here (King Street West) and then left at the first traffic lights.

Because of the current work on the new bus station (March 2022) it was necessary to take a right turn along Viaduct Street, adjacent to the viaduct, then turn left onto Daw Bank. At the cross roads take a right turn onto Exchange Street. The long flight of steps up to Station Road was also closed off (March 2022) so it was necessary to continue up Exchange Street, turn right onto the main road, Wellington Road South (the A6), and then right onto Station Road, which leads to Stockport Railway Station on the right.
A pleasant route.

Easy walking, flat, firm and level underfoot
Nearly all off-road, lots of birds
Good bus service Stockport bus station back to Didsbury.

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