Medlock Valley Way
Follow the Medlock Valley Way from Manchester City Centre to Bishop Park near Oldham on foot or take your bike for the first section to Clayton Vale.
You start off near Piccadilly station and head east along the River Medlock, passing Manchester City Football Stadium and Phillips Park before entering a lovely section of parkland and woodland through Clayton Vale. The reserve is home to a number of excellent mountain bike trails run by the National Cycling Centre.
The route continues past Droylsden and the pretty Daisy Nook Country Park with the final section taking you past the pretty reservoirs in Strinesdale Country Park to Bishop Park.
This is a lovely, fairly easy waterside walk that takes you through some attractive parkland and woodland. There are also some splendid views of the surrounding countryside during the final ascents at Strines Dale and Bishop park.
NB.The first part of the trail to Clayton Vale is open to cyclists forming part of regional route 86.
Medlock Valley Way Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Medlock Valley Way Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Medlock Valley Way OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Medlock Valley Way Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
The Café Riverside is a nice place for a pit stop on the route, in Daisy Nook country park. As the name implies, the cafe is situated right alongside the river and includes a lovely sunny open terrace. Here you can to sit outside and enjoy the relaxing sounds of the water passing by (you might even see a kingfisher or heron if you keep your eyes open) as you take morning coffee and cakes. There's also a nice Garden Centre which include one of the largest, most varied selection of plants available in the Manchester area.
Dog Walking
The riverside paths, woodland trails and parkland footpaths make for a fine dog walk.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The long distance Tameside Trail passes through the area. The 30 mile circular walk explores several of the highlights of the River Tame Valley.
In Manchester city centre the river meets with the River Irwell where you can pick up the Irwell Sculpture Trail and enjoy more riverside trails.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Looking south-west down the Medlock Valley Way towards Strine Dale from Roebuck Lane, east of Oldham.
Fields in the Medlock Valley
Etihad Stadium. Home to Manchester City Football Club.
Looking west along the Fairbottom Branch Canal in Daisy Nook Country Park. The Fairbottom Branch Canal ran eastwards from the Hollinwood Branch Canal to Fenny Fields Bridge, where it met a tramway that carried coal from the mines at Fairbottom and Rocher Vale, Park Bridge.
The River Medlock is crossed by the Hollinwood Branch Canal
Fields in the Medlock Valley
A picturesque weir on the River Medlock, Clayton Vale
River Medlock at Fairbottom near Bardsley