Walking along the Ashton Canal

The Ashton Canal - May 2006. © Wiggins

The canal towpath is a popular walking route, passing through both rural and urban landscapes and providing walkers with access into central Manchester.

The Ashton Canal towpath is today a very popular route between Manchester City Centre and the City of Manchester Stadium. The towpath was refurbished as a key gateway for the Common Wealth Games in 2002. Environmental improvements have included a high quality towpath finish with adjacent landscaped areas, seating, lighting and new access bridges – these have been carried out with cyclists and wheel chair users in mind. The Canal now provides a pleasant 'green link' from the city centre to East Manchester offering excellent views of the stadium.

If you enjoy variety, you may like to walk the Medlock Valley Way. From Paradise Wharf in the centre of Manchester, this walk very quickly reaches open land, and runs for 20km (12 miles), via Daisy Nook Country Park and Park Bridge to Wotherhead Hill viewpoint and Bishop Park above the source of the Medlock. Further information is available from Tameside Tourist Information Centre call 0161 343 4343.

Walking routes

Towpath Stoppages

There are no stoppages reported at this time.