Mary summarises the route very well indeed so I’ve little to add other than to give it five stars as I can’t really fault it as a Slow Ways route. There are transport and convenience store options at each end too....

DaveHilton

I left Droylsden past the marina, then crossed the canal on a cobbled, fairly steep footbridge to reach the towpath, which I then followed for most of the rest of the route. Just before going under the busy A6010 Alan Turing Way dual carriageway, the towpath crossed the canal via a steep wiggled bridge and cobbled path. I left the canal onto Ducie Street and, as if by magic, I was right in the heart of Manchester, just a short walk to Piccadilly Station!...

Mary Oz

I can’t believe how badly this has been plotted. Did some sort of error happen somehow? Don’t even attempt to follow it!...

Mary Oz

The lovely Portland Basin, with its historic narrow boats, was accessed via steps and a footbridge, and then the route used a cobbled footbridge over the start of the Peak Forest Canal at its junction with the Huddersfield Narrow Canal and the Ashton Canal....

Mary Oz

The only difficult bit was just south of the masts from SJ 91451 98385 to SJ 91643 98346 at the south end of Ashton Moss, where the narrow path was muddy and had brambles which could become a problem in summer. When I reached the final section of busy roads into Ashton, the suggested way of making the diagonal crossing at Ashton West tram stop, was the less safe way....

Mary Oz

The route from Gorton crossed a park and used some pleasant residential streets, pedestrian lights to cross Ashton Old Road, and a short, cobbled lane to reach a pleasant section of canal. The bridge used to cross the canal was very pretty, but was cobbled and fairly steep, so may pose a problem for some wheel users. From the other side of the canal, there was a cut-through path to the main road to the centre of Droylsden, with its shops, cafés, pubs and trams....

Mary Oz

Seven people have all said this route is fine but all have commented on, or included photos of the blocked footpath at the Gorton end. Admittedly the detour to avoid this is quite short. I have shown what you can actually walk (in orange) in my map with the photos....

Mary Oz

Good canal walking route connecting Droylsden and Ashton-under-Lyne....

RGW

A mixed walk taking you through small parks, it was a shame to see fly tipping especially on the early parts of the walk. The route is ok for a bike, a pram would need to be lifted over some barriers, equipment to restrict vehicles means much of the walk is not accessible to wheelchairs users. The walk culminates in a lovely stretch of the canalside where you can see the occasional barge and working locks. Don't forget to take bread to feed the ducks....

Andrew B

Whilst there were no significant problems, I did not particularly enjoy walking this route and suspect a more pleasant alternative is available following the Ashton canal tow path....

RGW

There are two sets of steps where this route briefly leaves the canal to utilise the pedestrian route to the Etihad campus....

RGW

First section of this route (through Manchester city centre and then the Medlock valley) is not well plotted and a better alternative is to simply use the Ashton canal tow path - see alternative route Mandro Two...

RGW

This is a pleasant route almost entirely off-road and through some nice green spaces....

RGW

This is an adequate route, the only problem being that there is a substantial amount of on-road walking that can easily be avoided using clear footpaths. See alternative route Faidro Two for an alternative. Note that the section through Medlock Vale is on footpaths which would be muddy after wet weather and have some steep sections up wooden steps....

RGW

It was a good walk, but upsetting seeing some rubbish on the route specially at the beginning of the walk. We had to redirect the walk simply we could not use the path as you can see on one of the photos. But walk along the canal was pleasant peaceful and safe ....

Ali Reza Gerami

Great route to walk canal was lovely and was easy in the feet I would recommend this walk and would walk it again my self....

joshua price

This route was good, along the canal which was nice and was very accessible. Some of the path was blocked but a quick alternative part round was easy to navigate. I would recommend this route....

Scott

Very accessible for all people, including wheelchair bound, nice views along the canal I would walk it again and suggest it to others it’s very safe...

Kasim shah

nice canal...

dylan blood

The start of the route is blocked as the passageway is currently overgrown. We had to navigate to the main road another way and then continued back down the canal and back on route. The route is pleasant and accessible to most people, although people in wheelchairs will not be able to enter the canal path due to there being a metal gate as seen in the photos....

Daniel brocklehurst

Ashton Canal has a pleasant tow path for easy walking, till Droylsden, but the walk can be easily continued till Ashton-under-Lyne (15 km altogether). For the first part, between Piccadilly station and the Sportcentre, the Slow Ways map suggests to follow the River Medlock, but this route is hard to find, interrupted and unpleasant. I followed the Ashton Canal from NW of Piccadilly Station and that worked well and deserves more stars....

pmostert