Irwell to Kersal Circular

Walk leader/s : Chris B & Angel U

Grading of walk:  Easy

Walk details :  An easy circular walk of approximately 6.5 miles, by the Irwell River and through some Salford streets. We will start in the car park of Salford Museum, walking towards Irwell River alongside Peel Park. We will follow the river, crossing a couple of busy roads and bridges until we reach the Kersal Wetlands. We will cross the Wetlands and the woods besides the Irwell, coming up to Kersal Moor, the highest point of Salford. We will have our lunch there. We will return to Peel Park crossing Higher Broughton and following the Irwell again. The “Old Pint Pot” pub in the Crescent, on the shores of Irwell, could be a good place to finish the walk. The Salford Museum has a café and toilets, which are open between 11.30am-4pm.

Risk assessment : Date of risk assessment 07/05/2024. Most of the walk is by well-defined paths, however at times we are walking beside the river and so care must be taken. There are a couple of high traffic roads to cross, we need to be careful there. We will walk mainly by quiet roads, but some are narrow and have no pavement for short stretches. We must be careful of oncoming cars. There is a short but slightly steep climb from Kersal Woodlands to Kersal Moor. This includes steps which are fairly uneven. Although when we did the walk it was not especially muddy, it could become so if there is heavy rain, especially around Kersal Wood. The walk is dog-friendly, but near the river there are warnings of Giant Hogweed, which is toxic to mammals, and so dogs should be kept on a short leash whilst near the water.

Start time and meeting point : The walk will start at 12 noon at the Car Park of Salford Museum & Art Gallery.

Directions to the start : Salford Museum & Art Gallery is part of the Salford University campus on The Crescent, post code M5 4WU.

Parking: Parking in the Museum costs £5.50, but there are quite limited parking spaces. There is another car park nearby. There is no nearby street parking.

what/three/words :  ///dices.librarian.rigid    for the Museum car park, where we plan to meet; there is also a nearby car park at  ///urban.cards.singer    – both are Pay and Display.

Public transport : Many buses stop at Salford University, beside or opposite the Museum. The list includes buses 8, 36, 38, 50, 51, 100 and V1, amongst others. Trains to Manchester Airport, Wigan, Blackpool and many other destinations stop at Salford Crescent. Walking from Manchester city centre is also an option.

Contact number on the day : 

Booking : Book your walk here

Changes and cancellation :  Very occasionally, due to severe weather or another serious event, a walk may be cancelled. In these instances, a note will be added to the website at least TWO HOURS before the start time. So, do check the website before you set out, and if in doubt use the walk leader’s mobile contact number. Every effort will be made to contact you should a walk be cancelled.