Train and Tram to Altrincham
Saturday March 21st
Hadfield Station to Altrincham
Members of the Longdendale and Glossopdale Footpath Society set off by train and tram to Altrincham. Travelling on the train from Hadfield to Manchester the members boarded at several stations en route. When the party congregated at Piccadilly Station they descended to the tram system and went by Metro along the Altrincham line as far as Navigation Road.
A short walk along Navigation Road brought them to the Atlantic Road trading park and at Altrincham Bridge they joined the towing path of the Bridgewater Canal. Their route was along the canal heading toward Lymm. On the offside the structure of new office suites resembled the prows of ocean liners, artificial cows grazed the off side green spaces and a little further along the stylish brick façade of the Linotype Works.
Out into open country level walking between ploughed fields. The wind on their backs and a slight haze which the sun never quite burnt through. Their destination was the deer park at Dunham Massey. After an hour along the waterway the ramblers passed below the canal and entered the deer park.
After lunch the route threaded between Dunham’s broad acres seeing herds of fallow deer until they reached Bollington Mill. For a return to the Metro they hikers explored the village of Dunham Woodhouse and came upon the Trans Pennine Trail. Familiar with this inter-coastal trail in its Longdendale lengths, the ramblers followed the former rail route through toward Broadheath before rejoining the canal.
Retracing their steps along Navigation Road led back to the tram stop and homeward bound via Piccadilly.
David Frith
