This morning I took a lovely walk from Portland Basin in Ashton-under-Lyne to Hyde, following the canal path that connects these two old towns in Greater Manchester.
I got to Portland Basin just as the sun was warming everything up. It's such a nice spot where the Ashton Canal meets the Peak Forest Canal. The Portland Basin Museum looks great next to the water. There were a few narrowboats tied up along the towpath, their faded paintwork mirrored in the still water.
I started walking along the Peak Forest Canal towards Hyde and noticed how the town gradually fades away into quieter surroundings. Sunlight broke through the trees along the canal, creating patterns on the water. We've been waiting ages for winter to finally give way to spring. It felt so good to be out in proper sunshine!
The canal was really peaceful today. The water's surface was glassy and still in places, broken only by the occasional breeze creating gentle ripples across the murky depths. I noticed small patches of reed mace starting to emerge along the water's edge - always a sure sign spring is on its way. A pair of ducks swam alongside me for a bit, probably hoping I had some bread, before they wandered off to a quiet spot.
As I walked, I went under several old stone bridges. Each one has its own look and history. The stonework, worn down over the years, tells stories about the industrial past that once made these canals busy. What used to be full of boats carrying goods is now just a quiet path for people walking, running, and cycling away from the noise of town.
I thought about all the people who'd walked here before me over the years. The canal workers, the people who worked in the mills, and everyone else whose jobs depended on these waterways. It's quite something to walk where they walked, connecting with history and nature at the same time.
When I reached Hyde, I stopped for a bit at the spiral bridge before heading back. The return journey showed me the same views but differently, as the sun had moved and lit up new details, colours, and textures.
By the time I got back to Portland Basin, I felt properly refreshed and somehow more connected to this place where I live. These urban canals are special. They create strips of quiet running through our busy towns, linking us not just to nearby communities but to nature and our industrial history.
If you want a peaceful walk with history, nature, and a chance to think, I'd definitely suggest this canal route. At about 11 kilometres there and back, it's that perfect mix of being easy to get to but still feeling like you've escaped from everything for a while.
