The Fallowfield Loop: Manchester’s Best Off-Road Run

The Fallowfield Loop is a 8.5-mile traffic-free route following the line of a former railway through the southern suburbs of Manchester. It connects Levenshulme in the east to Chorlton in the west via Didsbury, Fallowfield and Withington, running through a green corridor that cuts across otherwise busy residential areas. The surface is a mix of tarmac and compacted gravel path depending on which section you are on, and the route is shared with cyclists and dog walkers – expect company at all hours. You can join the Loop at multiple points including Fallowfield, Withington, Didsbury Road, and Chorlton, which makes it easy to slot into any distance from a quick 3 miles to a full out-and-back.

For running the full Loop, starting at Fallowfield (near the student belt on Wilbraham Road) and heading anticlockwise toward Chorlton gives you the better sightlines and keeps the slightly rougher sections for when you have already found your rhythm. There are a handful of road crossings – use them with care as some are on busier routes. The tunnel sections can be slippery in wet weather. The Loop also connects directly to Chorlton Water Park at its western end, adding options for an extension along the Mersey. It is the backbone of south Manchester running and most regulars know sections of it by heart.