This easy walk follows a path around Sale Water Park in Trafford, Greater Manchester. The route is flat with no obstacles.
The walk starts at Trafford Water Sports Centre on the southern bank of the lake. There’s free car parking here. To find it using sat nav simply enter the postcode M33 2LX for Sale Water Park. The building the housing the water sports facility also offers a restaurant and public toilets.
Sale Water Park also has a dedicated Metrolink stop.
After leaving the car park we walked down to the dock and watched sailing boats on the water. We then headed west following a wooded path along the southern shoreline.
After around ½ mile we reached the western end of the lake. This pleasant area offers a great view of the entire lake. Sluice gates here are raised when the water level in the River Mersey rises. The excess water flows into the lake preventing flooding.
Continuing the walk we came to the Broad Ees Dole Nature Reserve and observed the birds from the hide. An information board inside the hide helped to identify the birds.
After leaving the hide, we re-joined the main path, flowing the northern shore of the lake. We climbed the banking to the left for a view of the River Mersey. Following the path alongside the river in an easterly direction would have taken us to Chorlton Water Park.
On reaching the eastern end of the lake we stopped to observe a group of kayakers. A short walk through a wooded area brought us to Sale Water Park Hub. This visitor centre houses a cafe and toilets.
From the visitor centre we walked along the main road, back to our starting point.
