HOMEPAGE SALFORD QUAYS QUAYSTOCLIFTONPT1 CLIFTONTOWALKDENPT2 WALKDENTOWORSLEYPT3 WORSLEYTOCADISHEADPT4 CADISHEADTOSALFORDQUAYS ADDITIONALIMAGES COMMENTS WALKONLYTOCOPY

The Salford Trail Clifton to Walkden. Total 9.15 miles. Images 1. Wardley Hall. The residence of the Bishop of Salford. 2. An old image of the Clifton Viaduct and Clifton Aquaduct as they cross the river Irwell. Both are listed buildings on the city of Salford's list. 3+4 Two views of Blackleach Country Park. There are a number of paths that leave Clifton Country Park to the left, after entering the park, all of them either crossing over or under the nearby railway. The only advantage of choosing the right path is a shorter walk along the A666 to the turn off to the next footpath. The first is at the side of a small pond as you enter the park from under the motorway. Turn left and climb the path, crossing over the railway and eventually emerging behind St Anne’s Church, on the A666. Cross over the road bearing right and turn down Moss Colliery Road at the side of Clifton Court. At the end of Moss Colliery Road follow the path past a row of cottages on the right and some smallholdings and Clifton Moss Farm on the left. Eventually turning left and taking a path over the M62 Motorway. Once over the motorway turn right and follow the path at the edge of the fields adjacent to the motorway for about 800 yards. At the end of the field the path meets one of the very few stiles on the walk and passes through a yard of Wardley Grange Farm, which is a winter storage for caravans. Keep straight ahead for less than 50 yards and turn left into a wide lane. Follow the lane to its end and cross the A6, turning right and walking towards the motorway overhead. Turn left into Wardley Hall Road just before the Motorway. Wardley Hall at the end of the road is the residence of the Bishop of Salford and one of the relics held in the hall is a skull, which belonged to St Ambrose Barlow, who was hanged, drawn and quartered for his faith in 1641. The skull is kept in a glass case in the hall. Turn left before the hall and walk down to the cemetery. If you walk into the cemetery, just on the left after the main entrance is the grave of Joe Gladwin the Salford actor who gained fame as the voice over on the Hovis adverts and for his part in the "Last of the Summer Wine" series. The actual footpath runs to the left of the main gates and goes round the outer perimeter of the cemetery and emerges onto the East Lancashire Road. Turn right and walk along to the crossing, just before the M61 Motorway passing overhead. Cross the road and access the continuation footpath directly opposite, follow the path over the fields until it passes through Wardley Woods and ends in a small group of houses with the motorway running alongside. Walk alongside the path adjacent to the motorway until it emerges onto Greenleach Lane, over which, the motorway passes. Turn right under the motorway and turn right on to Roe Green. Before going any further have a look at the Roe Green Methodist Church on the right and note the blue plaque, which mentions the connection of famous cricketers with the church. Keep to the right hand side of the Green to Wardley Hall Lane and turn from it into Lyon Grove and exit at the top right of the Grove through a kissing gate onto the East Lancashire Road. Walk along the East Lancs Road to Old Clough Lane and cross over to the opposite side via the crossing point there. Turn to the right and walk along past the Ellesmere Golf Course. At the side of the golf course a footpath runs between it and the motorway access road. Follow the footpath for about 800 yards through a wooded area to the end of the golf course where the path crosses a railway. Immediately after crossing the railway turn left along a path that runs at the side of the railway for a short distance before it turns right at the end of a field then take the footpath immediately on the left, almost opposite the gate of the field, which runs through a narrow path with fields on the left and the local fishing club premises on the right. At the end of the path cross the A6 and take up the continuity of the path on the opposite side of the road. Follow the path through the middle of the field until a coppice is reached on the right and take the path that turns to the left and head towards a short row of cottages. Turn left at the cottages and walk to the end of the lane past the Linnyshaw Garden Centre. Just after the Garden Centre there is a choice of two paths to the right, take the first path. (Not over a stile) This path leads straight into the Blackleach Country Park, where its large lake is home to a wide variety of bird species. There is also a Visitors Centre and plenty of opportunities to rest awhile and enjoy the wildlife. From Blackleach Country Park leave on the side opposite to the Visitors Centre and cross the A575 Worsley Road North. Immediately after crossing drop down back on to the Loop Line path and walk on until an open area is reached with bright coloured pathways in green and red tarmac. Take either of the two main paths -green, or red - which meander across the open fields heading towards the overhead power lines, culminating at the same spot on the opposite end of the open space. Pass through the gate onto Cleggs Lane and cross immediately over the road, bearing left for less than 100 yards to the small black and white traffic roundabout, then turn right into the entrance of a large open area of football pitches bordered on the right, by trees A footpath passes alongside the left of the fields for about 700 yards before bearing left onto a loop line. The early part of the loop line is fairly new (early 2008) and has been constructed with the help of St Joseph’s R.C. Primary School. Lots of references to the history of the railway that existed before have been created in colourful artworks along the pathway. There are numerous points of access and street name indicators give the identity of the access points. A wooden seating area has been created on the site of the old Little Hulton station 1875 - 1954 and for those interested in industrial history keep an eye open overhead for the small pipe carrying box bridge bearing the name of the foundry of Henry Bayley & Sons, Albion Works, Miles Platting. It is now a straight walk along a section of the loop line for 1.8 miles to Walkden railway station and the end of the second part of the trail. Follow the loop line passing under a number of road bridges before passing under a railway bridge then two more road bridges to Walkden Road bridge, which has a sign indicating so and pass under the bridge. At this point take the option of exiting the line to the left via the stepped access point and the very short walk to Walkden railway station or the main bus route.