Walk Start Point:- Trinity Methodist Church Ancoats, Ridgeway Street, Ancoats. M40 7FZ.
Distance: 3 miles approx. Time 1 hour 40 mins approx
Terrain: The terrain is easy but sensible footwear for walking along the towpath is recommended.
There are cobbles and uneven paths at some point along the Canals. There are also a couple of busy roads to cross.
Start point between Church front door and tree on green space. Turn right onto Butler Street and walk to the crossing on Old Mill Street/Bradford Road (opposite Tony’s Chip shop) and cross over. Just past the building on your right go down the steps onto the canal towpath and continue walking with the canal on your left. Follow the towpath watching out for low bridges and uneven paths and cobbles.
Go past the Old Canal Cottage and continue to Paradise Wharf. At Paradise Wharf DO NOT go over the bridge but go right to Ducie Street.
Upon getting on Ducie Street follow it down to Piccadilly and cross over watching out for traffic onto Auburn Street.
Turn Left onto AYTOUN Street and follow until you come to WHITWORTH Street and go Right down past Sackville Gardens (on Right)
Take the next Left onto Sackville Street and then go Left into GRANBY ROW and head to Reflection Point 1.
REFLECTION POINT 1: VIMTO Instillation
- Take a look around what do you notice?
- Take a look at the bottle and think about what it signifies for you.
- What kinds of things in Bottles do you like to drink?
- What are the other things you like to drink that are not in bottles.
- Do you like Vimto?
- Vimto is full of vitamins and was developed in 1908 here in Manchester as a healthy tonic and exported all over the world. Think about what things help you to be healthier.
- The Vimto advert created has the strap line ‘Vimto find your different’. Think about what is different and unique about you?
- What do you value most about being different?
- Perhaps you might like to be thankful for the things that make you different and help you celebrate being different.
JOURNEY ONWARDS Go back down Granby Row cross over Sackville Street and continue down to the bottom of Granby Row until you come to PRINCESS Street.
Go Left along Princess Street at the junction of CHARLES Street cross over Princess Street and then go to the building on the opposite corner of Charles Street next to the River Medlock.
Reflection Point 2: FACTORY RECORDS
Take a look around what do you notice?
- What do you think FAC251 is?
- Have you heard of Factory Records?
- Have you heard of New Order?
- Think about what kind of music you enjoy listening to.
- What would you say is your favourite piece of music, song, hymn, band or artist?
- What is your favourite song or piece of music at the moment?
- Music plays an important part in our lives sometimes music marks moments in our lives as we might associate certain songs or pieces of music with special memories. Think about which one means a lot to you and why.
- Think about how music or songs make you feel at certain times. Is there a certain song or piece of music that uplifts you?
- Listening to music is a gift that can relax us, inspire us, uplift us. Do you make time to listen to music if it has such a positive effect on you?
- Perhaps you might like to be thankful for how music enhances your life.
JOURNEY ON
Continue onwards along PRINCESS Street with FAC 251 on your right. Continue until you come to Circle Square and cross over the A34 towards Sackville Street. Go Right along the A34 going under the flyover. Take the next left path under the subway go up the steps, turn Right at the top of the steps onto Groom Street then go Left onto Lamport Close then go right coming to Grosvenor Street.
At Grosvenor Street go Left until you come to the end. Use the Crossing to cross over and then go Left. At the crossing point cross over with the Skate Park (under the flyover) on your right. Follow the path round the other side of PROJEKTS Skate Park into Baring Street and follow the road around to the left and go right into Depot Mayfield (Mayfield Park).
Find a suitable place to stop. Reflection Point.
Reflection Point 3:Mayfield Park
Take a look around what do you notice?
- What strikes you about this place?
- What do you like about this space?
- Notice the contrast between this space and the view slightly further away. How does this make you feel?
- Where are the spaces where you find rest?
- Jesus said, ‘My peace I give you, I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ What do you think about this?
- Perhaps you might be thankful for the peaceful green spaces we have to go to.
JOURNEY ONWARDS
Go out of the park towards the left hand side of the big Depot Mayfield sign on the building and on to Travis Street. Continue along Travis Street until you come to the main road (Fairfield Street) cross over continuing on Travis Street and under the railway bridge. On exiting the bridge turn left onto Sheffield Street and cross over the tram lines (Carefully) and turn right into Baird Street and then left into Congou Street. At the end Turn right on to Chapeltown street and follow up to the top at Great Ancoats Street. Cross over Gt Ancoats St and then go left and get back on the canal (right)
Continue forwards past the Canal cottage (on right) and cross over the wooden bridge with the weight mechanism. After crossing the bridge go left over another wooden bridge and continue forwards going down the steps on to Old Mill Street. Cross at the crossing and Turn Right onto Old Mill Street go past the old Ancoats Hospital (on right) and follow up to the crossroads.(traffic lights at Butler St) Go left and go back to Trinity Ancoats where you began.