Walk Start Point:- Fairfield Train Station. Booth Road, Audenshaw M34 5QA
Distance: under 4.7km (2.92 miles) Time: 1 ½ hours approx
Terrain: The terrain is easy but sensible footwear for walking along sometimes muddy paths.
There are a couple of times when crossing over minor roads and walking along by the golf club so being aware of traffic and cyclists and runners.(And Flying Golf Balls although should be safe as walk is not on the Golf course)
Start point: Fairfield Train station, Booth Road
With the station on your left continue along for about 10 yards towards Fairway View. Turn left up the track between the railway bridge and Fairway View.
Follow the path alongside the fence and at the end turn Right towards Fairfield Golf Club Club house.
Follow the track alongside the Golf course on both sides.
After a while there will be a break in the wall on the left with a sign 18th Tee.
REFLECTION POINT
Reflection Point 1 18th TEE
- Take a look around what do you notice?
- Have you ever played golf?
- At the end of this hole, the round is finished. When you have finished something, how do you feel?
- What do you do that gives you a sense of achievement?
- How would you describe what you do, to someone who might be thinking of having a go at something similar?
- Do you think you might offer some words of advice that will help make the experience good for them?
- What words of advice have we been given that has encouraged us to have a go at something and has helped when we began.
- Are you someone who thrives on encouragement?
- Who are those who you value who give you encouragement?
- Perhaps you might be thankful for those people and their encouraging words.
JOURNEY ONWARDS
Continue onwards in the same direction on the path past the golf course and between 2 lakes.
Going around the corner to the right there is a slight incline and you will come to a gated road on your right with a 5mph sign on it and a public footpath sign.
Go Right and follow forwards along the track until you go past the Fairfield Carp Syndicate (Green gates on your right) then take your next left turn into the Park.
(There is an Orienteering U over an ^ symbol on the gate post)
Follow the path into the park go past ‘Heroes Wood’ (on the left)
Continue straight through the park, through the avenue of trees and coming to the Aviary Community Rooms.
This is Reflection Point 2
Go to the left and there is a Men’s shed door.
REFLECTION POINT 2
- Be still for a few moments, take a look around- WHAT DO YOU NOTICE?
- This is a Community space do you notice what things take place here?
- Do you go to any community spaces?
- What do you do there?
- What do you feel about going to other spaces to do activities in?
- How did you feel the first time going there? Did you go alone or with someone else?
- There is something good and comforting going along to something with someone else. Do you agree?
- Think about the things you do that you do alongside others, how does this feel compared to doing things by yourself?
- Do you prefer time with others or alone or a bit of both?
- The man shed here enables men to make things, have a brew, have a chat and is beneficial to them. What do you do that has a similar positive impact?
- Where are the places you like to be quiet and reflective?
- Perhaps you might like to be thankful for those places you can go to and be part of Community.
JOURNEY ONWARDS
Continue along the path with the community building on your left and go past the tennis courts and head down the path.
Near the bottom there is a right hand path with a bench, bin and telegraph pole. Take this path going past the bench and then before getting to the road take the right hand path this will take you towards a small gate (Mc Donalds on Left).
Go into the car park to the right alongside the green fence and towards Debdale Outdoor Centre. Keep this on the right and follow the fence on the right. This then opens up with the lake on your right continue going forwards and stop where its convenient.
Reflection Point 3- Lakeside
- Take a look around what do you notice?
- Is there anything taking place on the water or around the water?
- Even though water can be a dangerous thing if not respected it has great benefits. Can you think of how water benefits you?
- What do you like most about water?
- Water is a resource that we often take for granted in our context. How would you feel if water was not as freely available?
- Have you ever been in a river swimming or in a boat and allowed yourself to be carried along for a short while?
- How did you feel? Were you ok with it or did you feel vulnerable?
- Sometimes we get carried along in life by time and circumstances that we have no control of. How do you feel?
- Jesus would often be in a boat by himself or with his friends, he seemed at peace in a boat. How would you feel about being in a boat with Jesus?
- Often we can make the choice to embrace being in the boat being carried along, we can let the Spirit of God lead us and carry us along to somewhere new or enjoy a new experience. How does this feel?
- Are you willing to get in the boat with Jesus or do you prefer to stay firmly on the shore?
- Perhaps you might like to be thankful for those who journey with us either on land or water.
Journey onwards!
With the lake on your right continue forwards on the bridge between the green fence and continue through following the path and go under the bridge.
On exiting the bridge immediately turn right up the path and onto the cycle path and between the two black and red posts with Bees on and go Left following the sign for Fairfield Station.
Upon coming to white barriers by Bridge 5 continue forwards.
Upon coming to Bridge 4 cross over (carefully looking out for possible traffic) and continue forwards. Wright Robinson College is on Right)
At next white barriers cross over carefully continue on the track (House on left and College on Right)
Follow the track until you come to the end (Houses in front)
Follow the path around and follow Green sign (Fairfield Station, St Annes RC Primary School 85 Cycle trail) and continue following the road around to the right and you will arrive back at Fairway View.