Great Manchester Run

I'm starting training for the Great Manchester run. I'm running in aid of Multiple Sclerosis so give generously at https://www.justgiving.com/Mark-Holcroft/

Urmston to Manchester via Salford Quays (~10 km)

Urmston to Manchester via Salford Quays (~10 km)

This is a fairly direct route on roads that aren't too busy, and cycle ways.  It takes in loads of industrial architecture and ends up at the Museum of Science and Industry.  The route cuts through Trafford Park to get to the Ship Canal, then follows the Canal as it turns into the River Irwell into the City Centre.  If you look at the map, you'll see I took a diversion around Salford Quays / Media City, but you can take a more straight line along the Trafford side of the Ship Canal.  Note the tracking app cut out before the end of this route, so looking at the map below, you have to carry on a little until, as outlined in the text.

Urmston - Trafford Park Station

It's quite frustrating how few good cycle routes there are out of Urmston.  This section isn't perfect but it avoids traffic where possible.

Starting off on Flixton Road, head cross the junction with Croft's Bank Road, and head down Railway Road.  Cross over the footbridge over the railway (dismount of course) and then turn left down Higher Road.  At the end of Higher road, you need to turn left onto Moss Vale Road, then right onto Bradfield Road.  This right turn is a little nasty, so dismount if you're not confident.

Now follow Bradfield Road under the motorway, past a couple of mini-roundabouts until you reach Sevenways Roundabout.   This is quite busy, so depending on the time of day, you might way to dismount.  Take the third exit (Lyndhurst Road) .   After about 100 metres, you'll come to a blocked off exit where the road used to join Park Road.  Dismount here, and cross  at the traffic lights until you join Davyhulme Road.  Follow this road for around 200 metres and turn left down Ennerdale Road.  At the end of this road turn right onto Thirlmere Avenue.  Carry on until you come to the junction with Moss Road, and turn left.  Follow Moss Road past Trafford Park Station, and over the road bridge over the canal.

Trafford Park Station - Imperial War Museum

This wide road bridge used to lead into Trafford Park, but it just ends suddenly.  There's a small gate on the right hand side, which leads to a foot/cycle path the follows the canal.  Carry on here until you come to a wide road.  This is usually pretty traffic free, so turn right and carry on until the cycle path starts on the left hand side.  You'll soon come to a large roundabout where Westinghouse Road joins Europa Way.  Cross over (dismount if it's busy) and follow the cycle path along Europa Way until it stops.  At this point, you need to follow it as it crosses Europa Way, then carry on down the path as it goes down the opposite side of the road.  You'll come to another large roundabout, equipped with Pelican crossings.  Cross the main road, and pick up the cycle path along Warren Bruce Way.  This leads down to Trafford Wharf Road.  Cross this road and turn right onto a narrow cycle path.  After about 100m, you'll arrive at the Imperial War Museum.

Imperial War Museum - Manchester

At this point, I headed over the bridge to Media City and had a bit of a ride around Salford Quays.  If you want to carry straight on to Manchester, then turn left down the side of the Museum, then right along the canalside.  You'll come out on Trafford Wharf Road near Sam Platt's pub.

You need to run parallel to the canal until you reach Trafford Road Bridge.  Turn left and cross the canal, then take the left turn into the car park of the old cinema.  Cross right to the canalside, and there's a gated access to the path along the Ship Canal, as it narrows and turns into the River Irwell.  Follow this path until just after the pathside railings end, and there's a signpost up onto the A6042 Inner Ring Road.  There's a cycle lane on each side, but I'd just dismount and take the footpath under the railway bridge.  You'll soon come to Prince's Bridge.  This is traffic free, and has a slightly winding cycle path leading up to it.  Cross the Irwell on this bridge, until you come to Water Street.  If you look to your right, you'll see the back entrance to the Museum of Science and Industry.  Cross the road and you're there.