My Favourite Running Routes in South Manchester

The Bridgewater Canal: My Go-To Route

The Bridgewater Canal is the backbone of my running. I live in Altrincham, and the towpath runs right through the area towards Manchester on one side and Lymm on the other. It is flat, traffic-free, and you can run for as far as you want without worrying about cars. For an easy midweek run, I head out for 5-6K along the canal. For long runs, I can easily put together 20K or more.

The surface is mostly compacted gravel, which is kinder on the joints than pavement. You share the path with cyclists and dog walkers, but it is rarely so busy that it is a problem. This is where the majority of my miles happen.

Sale Water Park

Sale Water Park is about a 10-minute jog from my front door. The loop around the lake is roughly 2.5 kilometres, and it connects to the Trans Pennine Trail if you want to extend. I do not run here as often as the canal, but it is a nice change of scenery and good for shorter sessions.

Chorlton Water Park and the Mersey Valley

A bit further afield, Chorlton Water Park and the Mersey Valley trails offer a more varied run with some off-road sections. In autumn the colours along the river are beautiful. Again, not somewhere I run every week, but worth mixing in when you want something different.

Congleton and Beyond

I have a friend in Congleton, and we often run together when I visit. The countryside around there is hilly and very different from the flat canal paths near home. If you want hills in your training, heading south into Cheshire is the way to go.

Why Traffic-Free Matters

The main reason I love the canal is simple — no cars. You do not have to stop at crossings, watch for turning vehicles, or breathe in exhaust fumes. When you are deep into a long run and your concentration is fading, the last thing you want is to navigate traffic. Find your local canal or trail and make it your regular route. Your running will thank you.