Walks for Women+: Chorlton Ees to Sale Water Park

Welcome to Freshwalks. This Walks for Women+ event is part of our own vibrant business community programme and women in business are welcome to join us for some invigorating networking in the great outdoors. This monthly series offers a perfect entry level option and is ideal for those with busy diaries. Feel free to come alone - most Freshwalkers do - and you'll be warmly welcomed or invite a colleague or client along for company.

Route description

This completely flat circular route is a perfect entry level opportunity for Freshwalkers of all fitness levels, mixing riverside paths and woodland trail walking.

Chorlton Ees Nature Reserve is a 58 hectacre site designated as a Site of Biological Importance, with a wonderful mix of woodland and meadows.

Our route explores this popular local nature reserve and loops out to Sale Water Park and the Bridgewater Canal. It’s something of a hidden wild gem only a stone’s throw from a densely populated area. With a bit of luck you might even spot a woodpecker, heron or kingfisher.

Route: Chorlton Ees and Ivy Green Nature Reserve - Jackson's Bridge - Sale Water Park - Broad Ees Dole Nature Reserve

Distance: 7km

Grade: Very Easy (more info on grading here)

Max elevation: 26m / Total ascent: 17m

Proposed schedule:

10:30 - Meeting, Ivy Green Car Park*
10:45 - Walk starts
12:30 - Walk finishes, Ivy Green Car Park

*Hopefully, come May, SWIG coffee will still be parking up its retro van, serving up speciality coffee and baked goods. This will become our natural meeting point if so.

Walk leader: Katya Willems

Meeting location: Ivy Green Car Park, Brookburn Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9ES https://w3w.co/charge.added.happen

Parking: We intend to meet at Ivy Green car park (opposite the Bowling Green public house) from 10:30 onwards and start the walk no later than 10:45. Parking spaces are free but limited so we’d encourage lifts and car sharing where possible and of course, arrive in good time.

Public transport: The start of the walk is 15 minutes walk from Chorlton Metrolink station and 10 minutes walk from Chorlton bus station which both offer regular connections to Manchester city centre and other suburbs.

Post-walk: Given typical progress we should return to our starting point sometime around 12:30 after which we’ll go find a local pub or cafe on Beech Road to enjoy some optional lunch. No worries if you need to head off straight away though.