Ungood
Mostly, if a place can not meet the site criteria, it is not listed. However, there are a few sites that we can/will not ignore. Sometimes we add ‘warning’ and ‘avoid’ flags.
See also Ungood Outer
Visits
Manchester Town Hall
More ground than Chartres Cathedral, higher than York Minster
(2022) in renovation. Not visible for two years, probably not visible for two years more
surrounding Albert Square is blocked also
Piccadilly Gardens
Main tram/bus exchange in the city. Likely you’ll be there sometime
Many convenience shops and places to eat
Some notable buildings
A recent and amusing fountain
there is a strong management and Police presence in Piccadilly Gardens but, despite this, it is not a place to be in the evening with vulnerable people
in rush hours can be busy as a train platform
Chinatown
Chinatown exists—guys sit on steps, smoking; medicine dealers; foreign travel shops
Packed with Chinese food culture outlets and supermarkets
Five minutes from notable visit destinations, not to mention numerous office blocks and hotels
The “Arch of Chinatown” on the crossroad of Faulkner and Nicolas Streets. See the arch lit up in the evening, you’re in another world
the arch will occupy your time for five minutes
no visit attractions. What’s the plan? Visit the nearby Polish and/or Romanian consulates, then shop for noodles?
Walks
Inner Medlock Valley Way
The Medlock Valley Way was intended as a feature. Signposts still exist, the route is marked on Ordnance Survey maps, and there is/was an action group
The river has history, relics, industry and scenery
The outer section is a passable walk (note: ‘passable’)
Runs through a few parks
the Medlock frequently stinks
quote ‘lovely, fairly easy waterside walk that takes you through some attractive parkland and woodland.’ It’s often ugly, for strong walkers only, is only by the water half the route, and an acre of trees is not woodland. Only the parks are not miserable
many broken and blocked paths, ancient or no signposting
many road crossings, much road walking
unmaintained, and in bad weather some parts no better underfoot than a trench (even in the city)
Ancoats‐Failsworth, Rochdale Canal
Beyond Rochdale the Rochdale Canal becomes a delight, sometimes featured on TV
this inner section runs through areas with historical and current difficulties. Canal users are offered escorts, boats have been vandalised
towpath sometimes difficult and/or blocked (my manner is politic)
Transpennine, Altrincham‐Stretford
A path between these places is welcome, because the main road could be the Dickens of Manchester
2 miles of field paths, all wide, pleasant
If following wider trails or routes, passable for bicycles, which is why the path has a review
Start and end points are 3/4 of mile from centre of locations. Difficult to think of a purpose
Poorly placed or absent waymarks—you’ll need a map
As a walk, the route starts with a 1/4 mile of hedged road where even cars need to make passing room. Then 2 miles of road with no walking facility—no footpath, no verge. If you know how to walk down the middle of active roads with poor visibility, no problem—current safety standards would fence this route off
Inner Bridgewater Canal
Not dangerous, passes important places, maintained tarmac towpath
Useful connection routes
Walking/cycling this stretch, which stabs into the city, is essential for understanding the achievement of the Bridgewater
a mile and a half of graffiti‐worked industrial fence, major roads overhead, high retaining walls, concrete underpasses and elevations, industrial unit views
despite many amusing features, a view of the underside of a city is not most people’s idea of nice or pleasant
Inner Manchester Ship Canal
Beyond Salford Quays the Ship Canal is a maintained and empty experience
Wide bankside paths make excellent walk connection routes
the inner stretch of the ship canal runs through urban wasteland. Not dangerous, but only for people who want to move between places, or fans of post‐apocalyptic experience