It was raining when Stockport Community Cycling Club cyclists met in Woodley for this Portland Basin 2021 ride. Andy S and I were leading this second group, and today I was the back leader.

Cycling out to Portland Basin is a regular Stockport Community Cycling Club route. For social distancing purposes, however, the route has changed slightly this year. 

We began by weaving our way through Woodley before arriving at the Peak Forest Canal.

Crossing bridges was taken carefully, with the wet slopes proving slippy.

After four miles of cycling along the Peak Forest Canal we arrived at Portland Basin. 

Portland Basin Warehouse was constructed in 1834. When it was built it was one of the largest and most expensive canal storage buildings ever constructed.

Continuing our cycle ride, we now made our way along Ashton Canal.

After a few miles, we left the canal and followed a passageway to the Moravian Settlement.

It had finally stopped raining.

The Moravian Church is a Protestant Missionary Church formed in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church in the 15th Century in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic). In the 1700s it suffered repression and moved to Moravia. Later they opened around the world to spread the word. The British Settlement was formed around 1749 in Oldham, but outgrew the premises and bought land from a farmer in Droylsden. The current Fairfield Moravian Settlement dates from 1785 and little has changed since. Initially, the site contained everything from a church, inn, bakery, shop, doctors and even a fire engine and night watchman A school opened later and is now a state school. Any developments are still closely controlled by the Elders. Men and women used to live in separate accommodations.

From the Fairfield Moravian Settlement we next rejoined the Ashton Canal.

At the Droylesdon Junction, we left the canal along the path of the former Stockport branch of the Ashton Canal.

The branch opened in 1797 and was a working canal until the 1930s. It was officially abandoned in 1962.

It now serves as a path and forms a section of NCN Route 60. You can still see signs of its canal heritage along the way.

Further on we joined the Fallowfield Loop.

Then left the Loop at Gorton.

After briefly following a path alongside Gorton Cemetary, we arrived in North Reddish.

We weaved our way through the back streets of Reddish.

Eventually, we arrived at Reddish Vale Country Park.

From the park we next headed through Brinnington.

Then Bredbury.

Before finally arriving back in Woodley.

We had cycled 15 miles today. Thankfully, the rain abated half way round the route and once that happened we were able to enjoy a fine urban route.

You can view our Portland Basin 2021 route below: