Even though the England football team were playing a World Cup match, there was still a healthy turnout that met next to the Robin Hood pub in Stretford, for this Stockport Community Cycling Club cycle ride to Damhouse in Astley. Gill was today’s ride leader.

We have actually cycled this route before, previously under the title of Astley.

We began by cycling through Victoria Park.

Then made our way towards Trafford Park, where we picked up local network route on the Stretford and Leigh branch of the Bridgewater Canal.

We passed the Trafford Centre.

A little further along, we crossed the Manchester Ship Canal at Barton Bridge.

We continued along the Bridgewater Way.

We continued to follow the canal through Worsley.

We left the canal when we reached Boothstown.

We headed towards Ellenbrook.

We joined the section of NCN route 55 which forms Leigh Guided Busway multi-user path. This path gently gains in height.

We turned off at Hough Lane. A little further down the lane is Damhouse, a manor house dating back to about 1595.

Here, we stopped for our coffee break. The service was pretty quick (apart from mine!), and the food hearty.

After the coffee stop, we set off towards Astley Green.

And then made our way towards Chat Moss.

After crossing the railway line the path becomes quite tricky in parts. Indeed, at one stage Neil took a tumble and found himself taking an unwelcome dive into the shrubbery by the roadside. Thankfully, he was ok, no bones broken. Just a little shaken, and a bruised body and pride.

We next reached Irlam.

We crossed over the Manchester Ship Canal again.

Our final few miles were through the streets of Flixton, Davyhulme and Urmston.

When arriving back in Stretford we had cycled 22 miles. This had been another enjoyable Stockport Community Cycling Club ride.

You can view our Damhouse route below: