Dunham Park and the Bridgewater Canal

Saturday 14 January 2023 6 miles + Dunham Massey Garden

Hilary and Jane 

The forecast was for some wet weather, and as it had been raining all week I tried to choose a walk that might have proper paths under foot. It was raining as we left and as we arrived at the car park, we sat in the car for a few moments and then decided we had better get on with the walk.

We joined the Trans-Pennine Trail from the car park. The path was amongst trees in some places and at other times open to the cold wind coming across the fields. In one place there were lots of small birds swooping around. Against the pale grey grey sky it was hard to tell what they were.

We continued along the path to Station Road, then followed the road passed The Rope and Anchor pub - the name seemed a bit incongruous as we were in the middle of the countryside on the edge of Altrincham. At the bend we turned down Meadow Lane where there was a large empty house, it seemed a shame that no one was living in it. Ivy had once been growing inside the house as we could see the old brown ivy still on the inside of the window.

We walked to the bridge over the River Bollin, the river was running fast but had not come to the top of the banks, The fields were flooded and we were not sure we would be able to find the path, so decided we had better go back to the road. We went along the road to the entrance to Dunham Massey.

On entering the visitor building we decided to use their facilities and when we came out we sat on a bench in the corridor. It seemed like a good time to have our lunch so we ate it indoors! We then continued on our route throuh the park.

As we were passing the garden at Dunham Massey we dicided to have a little walk around. It was still very much a winter scene. We were lucky that there was some blue sky, the colours of the stems and trunks looked good in the spring light, particularly the white trunks of the birch. The snowdrops and the winter aconite were beginning to come through, and we saw the lovely yellow flower of the witch hazel.

We sat on the bench under the wooden pergola made from tree trunks, there were lots of birds flying about in the sunshine. We walked to the rose garden were we saw the bare structure of the place and looked at the kitchen garden.

Continuing our walk we weren't sure if we would see any deer but we were hoping to, a family of mum and two boys were looking for them as well and they had been told that there were some deer further on along the path. So we did see some from a distance in the end.

We climbed the steps to leave the parkland, and walked along the road following the wall, we crossed some fields and walked along School Lane to join the Bridgewater Canal. It was very muddy with lots of puddles to start with, and at the end it was solid surface so easy to walk on. We came back to Seamon's Road and to the car park.

Thinking about places to stop we remembered Plumley's Garden Centre where we had hot chocolate and tea.