Mersey Valley Running Routes
The Mersey corridor is south Manchester's flattest running option - grass and compacted paths along the river from Chorlton Water Park all the way out to Sale and beyond.
The River Mersey running corridor is the best flat route in south Manchester. Starting at Chorlton Water Park (accessible from Chorlton tram stop on the East Didsbury Metrolink line, or by road off Barlow Moor Road), the path follows the river through Southern Cemetery, past the meadows at Didsbury, and continues through to Sale Water Park and the Trans Pennine Trail toward Altrincham. The surface is mostly grass and compacted earth path, with a few stretches of tarmac around the water parks. It is heavily used by runners, dog walkers and cyclists and has a reliable, welcoming atmosphere particularly on weekend mornings.
The great advantage of the Mersey corridor is how easy it is to adjust your distance. You can run a flat 4 miles out-and-back from Chorlton Water Park without setting foot on a road, or extend to 10 or 12 miles by continuing into Sale and beyond. Both Chorlton Water Park and Sale Water Park host parkruns on Saturday mornings, so the route is familiar to thousands of local runners. The paths can get churned up in wet winters on the grass sections – if the ground is soft, expect mud. Trail shoes or waterproof road shoes are worth it October through March. Entry points include Chorlton, Withington Road bridge, Didsbury village, and the Baguley and Sale areas for those coming from Trafford.