No.3 Airport Orbital Time: 2 hours Circular.

Starting at Morrisons go to Edgeley roundabout and take second exit onto Birdhall Lane, then first right into Sherborne Road. Go West towards the railway bridge. Turn left under it and head up on the 558 cycleway marked Manchester airport. Through Brookfields head left towards the Baths, cut across to Bruntwood Lane and into the park. Head right, through the gates towards and round the small lake and past the front of the Hall. Down the hill then turn left at the bridge and follow track through to the far side. Go straight and through the underpass. Cross over and into the trading estate. Here follow the main road through past David Lloyd on your left. The road becomes a path and through a gate gives access to St Ann’s Road. Turn left and follow till Brown Lane. Here turn right then along to Styal Road and cross over. At the traffic lights go straight ahead and follow the pavement cycleway to Moss Lane. Turn right here and follow the signs,

going through the gate to the plane viewing point and past it.

Head left up a hill then down and out through a gate. This photo is taken as though you were heading in the other direction. The view is worth remembering as it’s not clearly signed when going the other way round.

Go along to the busy roundabout and cross at the cycle points. Turn right and follow the orbital through two tunnels and round the airport until you come to a blue sign marked Wythenshawe Centre on your left.

Follow these signs through parks and past primary school till emerging in Wythenshawe centre. Turn right onto Simonsway and follow the cycle track till you get to Peel Hall Road, Turn left onto Peel Hall Road and, shortly, right again on a signposted cycleway marked Sharston, Hollyhedge Park and Gatley. It is well signed. From Coleby Avenue go left onto Holliney Road and through Peel Hall Park. Follow signs for Gatley, along to the end. Turn right onto Crossacres Road and past the school. Turn right onto Hollyhedge Road and straight across into Ogden Grove. Cycle right onto Halstead Grove and follow for about half a mile. On your right there is a public footpath with a rail down the middle. Go down to the bottom of the hill and cross Styal Road again. Bear left and then go up into Gatley Hill. Head up towards the hall. On your left you will find a narrow track. Follow it down and out onto Hawthorn Road. You are now heading right. Go past Gatley primary School and then find a footpath heading right. It is pictured below. This will take you past Scholes Park and running track and finally to Kingsway School along Foxland Road. Turn right and right again to find the underpass that takes you back under Kingsway and onto Broadway. Follow Broadway to the end then turn left onto Wilmslow Road. Very shortly turn right onto Depleach Road. Follow this round and then enter the car park in Cheadle on your right. Follow it past the back door of Iceland and head along the ginnel to come out on Cheadle High Street. Turn right and go to the lights. Fork left at the lights but turn sharp right before the car sales showroom. I think this is Newland Road. It takes you directly into Abney park, past a little lake on your left. Turn right up a slope and follow the central path through the centre of Abney. Turn right up to the North West Mountain Bike shop and cross Stockport Road. Turn left along the pavement then right into Carrs Road. Follow this till you see a railway bridge on your left. Go through this and right and you will be back on Sherborne Road near Morrisons.

Cheadle Heath

Cheadle

Gatley

Wythenshawe

Airport Orbital

Simonsway

Wyhtneshawe

Cycleway 558

Cheadle Heath

I came across this gorgeous scarfed tree at Crossacres Community Centre in Wythenshawe. Love it!