It’s getting wintery now. So, this group of Stockport Community Cycling Club riders were well wrapped-up when they met at Sale Water Park for the Damhouse 2022 cycle ride.

Gill was leading the ride, and I was the back leader.

Setting off, we began by cycling along the side of Sale Water Park.

After leaving the water park, we briefly followed NCN Route 62 before making our way along Chester Road into Stretford.

Our route then weaved its way through Stretford to Trafford.

And on towards Dumplington.

Upon reaching the edge of Eccles, we joined the Port Salford Greenway.

We followed this for the next mile or so.

The route finishes at Worsley Village.

Here, we navigated our way through to the Bridgewater Canal.

Leaving the canal at Boothstown, we joined the East Lancs Road.

Then turned off at Astley. Here we had a quick peek at the Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley Green.

After which, we crossed East Lancs Road and arrived for lunch at Damhouse.

Damhouse s a 16th-century manor house originally commissioned by Adam Mort. For a long time, it was a school and a chapel. It became an isolation hospital in 1893 and a general hospital in 1944. It closed in 1994. Six years later it was refurbished, and among other things, it now has tea room.

Having been fed and watered, we continued our cycle ride.

We joined the cycle path alongside the Leigh Guided Busway. This also forms a section of NCN Route 55.

At the end of the Busway, NCN Route 55 continues along the Tyldesley Loopline.

We followed the Tyldesley Loopline for a mile or so, after which it joined the Roe Green Loopline.

At the end of the Loopline, we took a short trip along Parrin Lane and picked up the Bridgewater Canal again, and followed the towpath which also forms a section of the Bridgewater Way.

We crossed Barton Bridge.

Then rejoined the Bridgewater Canal towpath.

Eventually, this brought us back to the edge of Sale.

And back to Sale Water Park.

This Damhouse 2022, a slightly shorter Sunday ride, had been an enjoyable urban cycle ride. With the cooling weather, the shorter distance had proved ideal.

You can view our Damhouse 2022 route below: