JAN25: Manchester waterways walk to Salford Quays

GET SOCIAL THIS JANUARY! This event is one of loads of events taking place over the same weekend! Check out all the events over the weekend of 17-19 January 2025: OutdoorLads.events/JAN25. Great for new and regular members!

Join us for a leisurely walk along some of Manchester's waterways, from the city centre to Salford Quays.  We will be walking lengths of the Rochdale Canal, the Bridgewater Canal and the Manchester Ship Canal.  With a pub stop along the way, this is a linear walk of around 5 miles / 8 kilometres, and return to Manchester city centre will be by public transport from Salford Quays.

Manchester's waterways - rivers and canals - are features of the city.  Key infrastructure in the industrial development of Manchester and nearby Salford during the 19th and early 20th centuries, their use declined during the later decades of the 20th century.  But, over the last 30 years, the waterways and much of their surroundings have been redeveloped for residential, commercial and recreational use.

The walk officially ends at Salford Quays, and you can stay for as long as you want.  You might want to visit either the Imperial War Museum North (open until 18:00) or the Lowry Gallery (open until 17:00) - home of the largest collection of paintings by local artist L.S. Lowry (1887 -1976) who is famous for his "matchstick-style" paintings of people in the industrial landscapes of Salford.  Or you might want to eat, drink and socialise.  There are two nearby bars - The Alchemist and Craftbrew - and a number of eating places, including Bella Italia, Café Rouge, Nandos and Pizza Express to name but a few.

This is a linear walk.  Return to Manchester city centre could be by tram, which is a straightforward journey (cost of a one-way ticket back to the centre of Manchester is £2.80).  Or you might want to make your own way home, by tram or bus, direct from Salford Quays.

If the event is fully booked: join the wait list as people frequently drop out during the week before an event and you are likely to get a place on the walk.

Dogs: well-behaved dogs are welcome on the walk, but must be under control at all times and on a lead where necessary.

IMPORTANT! - Participation Statement

You MUST complete a Participation Statement, in addition to booking your event space before attending an OutdoorLads event. You only need to complete this Participation Statement once, not for each event you attend. 

All photos by the event leader, with permission granted to OutdoorLads for their use.