Walk Start Point:- Parish of St Stephen Audenshaw M34 5HD
Distance: 3 miles approx.
Time: 105 mins approx
Terrain: The terrain is easy but sensible footwear for walking along the towpath and over grass and footpaths is recommended.
Be aware of tree roots and narrowboat mooring ties at points.
From the front of the Church cross over Guide Lane at the crossing towards the railway station. Before reaching the station go left down the path (black and yellow railings) towards the canal. At the bottom go left along the canal (with the canal on your right).
Go under the bridge (26) and continue along the tow path.
Reflection Point 1. Boat yard 
- Take a look around, what do you notice?
- How many narrowboats do you see in the water?
- What do you notice about the boats?
- Can you see any boats out of the water?
- Every now and again boats have to go into dry dock to get repaired or have their hulls treated, they take time out of being in the water. Think about the places you go to to take time out.
- What things help you to recharge your batteries and help you to relax?
- Perhaps you might like to be thankful for those places or those things that help you.
JOURNEY ONWARDS
Continue along the canal (on your right) upon getting to bridge 21 Low Bridge go through then stop and reflect.
Reflection Point 2 Bridge 21 Low Bridge
- After coming under the bridge what did you notice?
- How easy or difficult was it to go under?
- For those who are small enough to go under how did that make you feel?
- For those who had to bend while walking, how did that make you feel?
- Sometimes in life, circumstances or the journey causes us to have to adapt. How are you at adapting?
- Sometimes the path through life we take may seem awkward and causes us to change our position on things because of the awkwardness enables us to see from a different angle, view or perspective. Think about one of the things you have seen from a different perspective was this beneficial to you?
- Perhaps you might like to be thankful for the new viewpoint you have which has helped you to grow and be more open.
JOURNEY ONWARDS
Continue along the canal to Bridge 20 and leave the canal by going up the path to the left. At the top go right over the cobbled path over the bridge and go straight ahead and continue until you come to the traffic lights on Manchester Road. Turn left along Manchester Road noticing the blue plaque on house number 122.
Continue along Manchester Road until coming to the Main Cross road of Market Street. Carefully cross over Market street continuing along Manchester Road passing the old Insurance building. At the next set of traffic lights (Tesco) turn left into Lock keepers Court take the left into a small car park and then go right through the gap into the Marina and go into the Marina. At the Marina this will be the next reflection point.
REFLECTION POINT 3
At the Marina find a safe suitable place to stop.
- Take a look around, what do you notice?
- Take a look at all the different narrow boats and how unique each one is.
- Each one is different and has different markings and numbers on them.
- Each one is unique to the people who own them. Some may have various paintings on them painted by hand which again is unique to that boat and owner.
- For a moment take a look at the palm of your hand and look at the uniqueness of the lines and finger prints of your hand.
- Think about how you are unique and that there isn’t a single person on the planet exactly the same as you.
- Thinking about the boats again, think about each boat and how they may look similar but they will be different and created by a master boat builder, internal designer and artist.
- As you have been created and stand in this space of creation how does this make you feel?
- Perhaps you might like to be thankful for who you are and who you were created to be.
JOURNEY ONWARDS
Continue along to the left with the Marina on your right and follow it all the way around. BE CAREFUL of ropes tying the boats at various points.
Rejoin the canal around to the left BE AWARE of nesting geese (dependant upon time of year)
Continue alongside the building on your left and then go up the steps onto the bridge going right crossing over the canal.
Turn right down to the canal and go right under the bridge following the canal (on your left) Continue along to Bridge 21 (Low bridge) go under the bridge until you come to the Winding hole on your left.
Reflection Point 4 Winding Hole
- Take a look around what do you notice?
- What is different about the canal here?
- This is a place that is part of the canal system which allows boats to be turned around. Do you think places like this are essential?
- How easy or difficult do you think this might be to turn around a narrow boat?
- Perhaps if we see the canal system as part of our lives we might at times need these spaces to change direction. Think of a time when you have changed direction, how easy or difficult was it?
- Sometimes in our lives we go off in the wrong direction and need to turnaround or have come to a dead end and need to go back and find a different route. What has helped with this.
- Jesus once told a story about a young man going off in the wrong direction with his life, but then he realised and decided to go back home where his dad was waiting with open arms to welcome him back. He had come to a Winding Hole in his life and turned around. How does this abridged story make you feel about God welcoming back those who had gone down the wrong canal route?
- Perhaps you might like to be thankful for those times when you have turned around, gone back and been welcomed.
Journey Onwards
Continue along the canal (on your left) go under Bridge 26 then leave the canal up the path to the right which you came down to start the walk.
Prayer: Creator of all that is thank you for being with us on this walk and allowing us to see something of you in creation and each other. Amen