This is a useful route if you commute to Birchwood, or Warrington. It's fairly direct although the section between Hollins Green and Gorse Covert will get your chain quite gritty so regular cleaning will be needed. On a good day, this takes me around 40 minutes, while the train covers the same distance in about 16 minutes. If you allow for delays, getting to and from the station etc. it's fairly comparable, plus you get to ride your bike every day. If the weather takes a turn for the worse during the day, or if you get tired, you can get the train home and join the other bike/train commuters.
In terms of traffic, it's not too bad. The stretch along the A57 has a cycle path, and there's an alternative route through the park in Birchwood to avoid the road there. The worst stretch in terms of traffic is probably the Flixton section, which is where most of my scary experiences have taken place.
It's quite a varied route, with suburban roads, fast a-roads, country lanes and farm tracks. It's my preferred route to Birchwood as it's the most direct, and avoids the A57 west of Hollins Green / Warburton Bridge, which has an alarming number of signs warning you how dangerous the road is.
If you've been cycling on the road, then take right turn onto Glazebrook Lane, then immediately left onto the road that runs up to the Black Swan pub. If you've been on the cycle path, then it rather annoyingly runs out at the Warrington sign, so you're expected to cross the busy road, to get back onto the A57, then turn right as above. Alternatively wheel your bike for about 100 metres until you come to Glazebrook Lane. Cross the road 10m up from the traffic lights, and head on down the road towards the Black Swan.
Dam Head Lane will curve off towards the right, but keep straight on down a slightly smaller road, past some houses and farm buildings, until you come to a railway bridge. Cross over this and head off to the left for 200 metres. The road carries straight on, and there's a sign saying 'No Access'. At this point turn left into a bit of a farmyard, then follow it round to the right. For the next 800 metres, the road has a distinctly agricultural feel to it, with plenty of pot holes to keep you on your toes. You'll pass through a farmyard where the mud takes on a bovine character until the road turns to the right. At this point leave the road on the left, and follow the path over a bump and then sharp right until you come to a suburban road. This section is permanently a morass so you'll get your bike dirty.
Go straight through the roundabout onto Ordnance Avenue. This is a fairly fast road, so if you're nervous try going through the Birchwood Forest Park instead. After about 700 metres you'll hit another roundabout - go straight through.
From here on, it depends where you want to go. For Birchwood Boulevard, just follow the road, through another larger roundabout where the A574 Birchwood Way joins the road and you're there.
My route carries on to Fearnhead, over the M6. You'll pass two bus stops. At the second one, stop and take the footpath on the right of the road. This will lead you to a junction where you can either go right under the Birchwood Way (this is an alternative route), left back towards Ordnance Avenue, or take the middle path, which leads over a bridge over the A574. After this bridge, the track goes through a wooded area until you join a broad path under the A574. Turn right under the road, then turn left onto the old Warrington Road. Follow this until it becomes a path over the M6 motorway. At this point I've arrived at work, but you can carry on down Fearnhead Lane to Warrington.
In terms of traffic, it's not too bad. The stretch along the A57 has a cycle path, and there's an alternative route through the park in Birchwood to avoid the road there. The worst stretch in terms of traffic is probably the Flixton section, which is where most of my scary experiences have taken place.
It's quite a varied route, with suburban roads, fast a-roads, country lanes and farm tracks. It's my preferred route to Birchwood as it's the most direct, and avoids the A57 west of Hollins Green / Warburton Bridge, which has an alarming number of signs warning you how dangerous the road is.
Section 1: Urmston - Irlam
So start off on Flixton Road heading towards Flixton. There's a left turn to keep on Flixton road at the junction with Bowfell Road / Brook Road. After about 400 metres, turn right onto Irlam Road. Follow Irlam Road for about 2km, past Wellacre School and go straight through the roundabout at the bottom of the hill. Carry on to the banks of the ship canal (where the old ferry used to be), and follow it round to the left until you get to the locks. This section of the road is narrow, and surprisingly busy with other bikes, pedestrians and cars. There's a footbridge over the locks - once you've crossed it, follow a narrow footpath to the left until you come out at a roundabout on the A57 Cadishead Way.Section 2: Irlam - Hollins Green
The A57 is busy with cars and HGVs, so I'd advise you to cross over and follow the combined cycle/footpath heading west (towards the railway bridge over the canal). If you want to go on the road it's a good opportunity to go fast, but be careful where the road narrows as you go under the bridge. Carry on down the A57 along the canal for about 6km until you cross the River Glaze (or is it the Glaze Brook) and come to a sign saying you're now in Warrington.If you've been cycling on the road, then take right turn onto Glazebrook Lane, then immediately left onto the road that runs up to the Black Swan pub. If you've been on the cycle path, then it rather annoyingly runs out at the Warrington sign, so you're expected to cross the busy road, to get back onto the A57, then turn right as above. Alternatively wheel your bike for about 100 metres until you come to Glazebrook Lane. Cross the road 10m up from the traffic lights, and head on down the road towards the Black Swan.
Section 3: Hollins Green - Gorse Covert
This is my favourite section of the ride. For the next 300 metres or so, you're following the route of the Tour of Great Britain 2012 (albeit in the wrong direction). Turn right up Dam Lane and head out through open country. The road climbs slightly then curves downhill past some houses - just bear in mind that people walk along this section of the road so keep your wits about you.Dam Head Lane will curve off towards the right, but keep straight on down a slightly smaller road, past some houses and farm buildings, until you come to a railway bridge. Cross over this and head off to the left for 200 metres. The road carries straight on, and there's a sign saying 'No Access'. At this point turn left into a bit of a farmyard, then follow it round to the right. For the next 800 metres, the road has a distinctly agricultural feel to it, with plenty of pot holes to keep you on your toes. You'll pass through a farmyard where the mud takes on a bovine character until the road turns to the right. At this point leave the road on the left, and follow the path over a bump and then sharp right until you come to a suburban road. This section is permanently a morass so you'll get your bike dirty.
Section 4: Gorse Covert - Birchwood
You now need to squeeze through a gate and turn left onto Rockingham Close. Carry on until you come to a T-junction with Gorse Covert Road and turn left. After about 400 metres, just before a pelican crossing, turn left down Ashdown Lane. After about 150 metres turn left down Killingworth Lane. This section is a bit of a rat-run so don't be surprised to find cars coming at you in the middle of the road as they shave seconds off the school run. The road then comes to a t-junction, so turn right until you come to a roundabout.Go straight through the roundabout onto Ordnance Avenue. This is a fairly fast road, so if you're nervous try going through the Birchwood Forest Park instead. After about 700 metres you'll hit another roundabout - go straight through.
From here on, it depends where you want to go. For Birchwood Boulevard, just follow the road, through another larger roundabout where the A574 Birchwood Way joins the road and you're there.
My route carries on to Fearnhead, over the M6. You'll pass two bus stops. At the second one, stop and take the footpath on the right of the road. This will lead you to a junction where you can either go right under the Birchwood Way (this is an alternative route), left back towards Ordnance Avenue, or take the middle path, which leads over a bridge over the A574. After this bridge, the track goes through a wooded area until you join a broad path under the A574. Turn right under the road, then turn left onto the old Warrington Road. Follow this until it becomes a path over the M6 motorway. At this point I've arrived at work, but you can carry on down Fearnhead Lane to Warrington.
