Starting at Clayton Park, Off Ashton New Road

Finishing at Boggart Hole Clough, Off Rochdale Road and Charlestown Road

[1] Leave Clayton park onto Clayton Hall Road and turn left. At the T-junction with North Road turn right and cross over to turn left along Vale Street and continue to the end of this road.

[2] At the end of Vale Street you enter Clayton Vale. Proceed downhill to cross the bridge over the River Medlock. Turn right and walk for about 200 metres with the river on your right, take the broad pathway up the hill and, just before the bridge under the railway, turn right to walk along the top of the Vale.

[3] On reaching Berry Brow, turn left over the railway line taking great care at the unmanned level crossing, and proceed uphill to cross over where the Brow becomes Gravener Lane. Turn right into Elsma Road and at the end of the road turn left onto Windsor Road; you will shortly reach a T-junction with Hulmes Road.

[4]  Cross Hulmes Road to enter Brookdale Park. Where the path forks, take the right hand fork to a somewhat skewed “crossroads”. There is a carving of a squirrel on your left. Go straight over the crossroads and follow the path until it bends sharply left. At this point there is a flagged path off to the right somewhat cheekily marked “Oldham Way” (we’re in Manchester), take this path which will take you to an exit out of the park. On passing through the gate, turn immediately left and follow the railings which will take you onto Donleigh Street.

[5] Continue along Donleigh Street and at the end cross over Averill Street, and follow the path (footpath sign) behind the houses immediately opposite. This is Stotts Lane with allotments on the right. At the end of Stotts Lane turn left and you will see Gaskell Street Park sitting in the fork where two roads meet. On reaching the park, fork right (Queensferry Street, unsigned), keeping the park on your left. Enter the park at the first opportunity and enjoy the greenery and perhaps read the notice board. Leave the park by the exit near the notice board and turn right along Queensferry Street for a few metres then cross over and turn right down Flash Street.

[6] At the end of Flash Street turn left to follow the Rochdale Canal towpath. After about a kilometre you will reach Lock 71, cross the canal here then leave it by walking diagonally left onto Troydale Drive. Head up Troydale Drive towards the first junction. Here turn left, then take the next right (Lowcross Road). From here you can see the traffic lights on Oldham Road, at the crossroads with Thorpe Road. Cross Oldham Road at these lights to enter Thorpe Road. Proceed over the railway bridge and down to the roundabout, where you meet Lightbowne Road.

[7] Turn right onto Lightbowne Road, then almost immediately turn right again onto a footpath leading towards a housing estate. Keep on the footpath, with the houses always on your right and the extensive green on your left – do not cross the green. This path is Ellisland Walk. You will cross over a road, then continue along Alfreston Walk. Eventually the footpaths will bring you to Halliford Road. Here, turn left along the road for approximately 100 metres to a T-junction with Hugo Street. Turn right here and follow Hugo Street to where it ends as a small parking area at Whinmoor Walk. Behind this parking area is a narrow and somewhat muddy path leading off to the right through Lightbowne Woods.

[8] Follow the path through Lightbowne Woods, which winds alongside the Newton Heath Goods Depot. Eventually you will come out on St Mary’s Road. Turn left and walk uphill crossing over Joyce Street. About 100 metres after Joyce Street, take the broad path to your left (with a blue barrier) – this path is Old Hall Road, although it may be unsigned.

[9] The path leads to Broadhurst Park. A few metres into the park and just before the notice board there is a path going downhill to the left, follow this (often muddy) path through Broadhurst Bottom Clough. On leaving the Clough turn left along the path by the notice board. Follow this path as it bends right past an exit from the park onto Lightbowne Road, do not leave the park. You will shortly reach a second exit, again do not leave the park, instead turn right and follow the path back into the park. Take the first left turning from this path to follow another path through the wetland area. This path leads to yet another exit just by some playing fields, just before this exit take the path to your left and follow this with the playing fields on your right. You will eventually be able to leave the park onto Lightbowne Road.

[10] Cross the road with care and take the path immediately opposite which runs between the cemetery and Moston Playing Fields. This path terminates at a T-junction with Moston Lane. Cross over Moston Lane and turn right until you reach Horncastle Road. Turn left into this road and follow it to its end where there is an entrance to Shackliffe Green.

[11] Follow the path straight ahead until you reach a “crossroads” just before the housing estate. Turn left here to follow the path behind the houses, this leads directly to Bogart Hole Clough after a distance of some 800 metres. Enter Bogart Hole Clough and turn left down the broad path (which eventually leads to Rochdale Road). Approximately 1 kilometre along this path there is a meeting of several pathways. At this point you should take the path alongside the stream (with the stream on your right).

[12] This path eventually climbs uphill, and away from the stream, to meet Rochdale Road at the Carmel Church.