The Greater Manchester canal walk offers a perfect waterside escape on a hot sunny day. As the heatwave continues this week, many are flocking to waterside spots for summery strolls and pints in the sunshine. Manchester may be lacking a beach, as the famous saying goes, but it has plenty of canals, rivers and reservoirs you can visit this summer.
Bridgewater Canal: A Waterside Escape
Greater Manchester’s canals provide a waterside escape on a sunny day, and the Bridgewater Canal, which connects Runcorn, Manchester and Leigh, is no exception. Covering a distance of 39 miles, it takes in sweeping countryside, leafy suburbs and urban scenery. A section of the canal flows through Trafford, passing through Stretford, Sale and Altrincham along the way.
It couldn’t be easier to pick up the towpath thanks to its proximity to the tramline. In fact, it’s just minutes away from Sale tram stop and an excellent coffee shop located next door, perfect for grabbing a drink and sweet treat to take on your walk.
Grapefruit Coffee: A Tiny Takeaway Hatch
Grapefruit Coffee is a small takeaway coffee hatch perched on the edge of Sale Bridge, above the water. Walk past at pretty much any time of the day and you’ll likely spot a steady queue of customers patiently waiting for an early-morning espresso, an elevenses, or lunchtime cake. It serves a selection of coffees, hot drinks, cold cans and a range of freshly baked breads, cakes and pastries, available from a small hatch in the window. Alongside the takeaway offerings, Grapefruit sells an extensive range of provisions including ground coffee and preserves.
Given the current heatwave, during my visit I purchased an iced latte (£4.50) and a cinnamon bun (£3.50), along with a slice of raspberry bundt cake (£4.20). The iced latte was refreshing with a rounded taste while the cinnamon bun was the perfect accompaniment. Subtly spiced with cinnamon, the bun was coated in a sticky-sweet glaze which complemented the doughy centre. Having saved the bundt cake for later after working up an appetite, it was beautifully moist and topped with slightly tangy pink icing.
Walking Along the Canal
It’s excellent fuel for setting off on a walk along the canal, whether you choose to head north into Stretford, or further south towards Altrincham. If you walk through Stretford and pass under the M60, you'll find yourself on the doorstep of Sale Water Park, another stunning location on a sunny day. Alternatively, a walk south will lead you deeper into Sale and past Walton Park, where you'll find another quirky coffee shop: Walton Perk, located in a barge that's moored up by the towpath.
Grapefruit Coffee is open from 7.30am to 3pm from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 3pm on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays. Address: 2 School Road, Sale, M33 7XY.
