The old railway line was abandoned for years but is now a green corridor through Manchester with plenty of stop-off points
What's On Jenna Campbell What's On Editor 06:00, 04 Apr 2025
This week, Greater Manchester has been basking in the sunshine as spring officially gets underway.
Temperature highs of 19C were forecast on Thursday, while today, the mercury is expected to reach highs of 20C.
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The weekend isn't shaping up too badly either, which will be welcome news to families as the Easter Holidays get underway. Next week, there will be more sun too with hardly a cloud in the sky.
Now that the clocks have gone forward, and with the Easter Bank Holiday fast approaching, we'll all have some time to enjoy the warmer weather and plan ahead for those days off work.
One of the best way to spend a sunny day is a leisurely stroll that incorporates a few stop-off points for either a coffee, a bite to eat, or a pint should you feel inclined.
And if you're looking to keep things local over the next few weeks, there's plenty of options across Greater Manchester.
One of those that is accessible to many is the The Fallowfield Loop, a traffic-free route which curves its way through the suburbs of south Manchester, connecting Chorlton with Fairfield in Tameside.
The walking and cycling trail passes through Fallowfield and Levenshulme along the way, stretching on for around eight miles.
Along the former railway line, the route passes close by several parks, which are good stop-off points.
The route begins at St Werburgh’s Metrolink Stop in Chorlton-cum-Hardy before travelling through the suburb of Levenshulme, past Debdale Park and Gorton reservoirs before ending up to Fairfield station.
Opened in 1892, the Fallowfield Loop railway line provided a route to Manchester Central railway station. It stopped serving passengers in 1969, becoming a freight-only route, and then closed completely in 1988.
The route was abandoned until a group of cyclists campaigned to convert it into a traffic-free green corridor through south Manchester, forming Friends of Fallowfield Loop in 2001. Today it's mostly owned by the charity Sustrans and the loop is part of the National Cycle Network Route 60.
You can attempt the whole route in one go, or choose a more manageable smaller section. Along the way there are detours you can take, depending on whether you want to explore the cafes and shops of Chorlton or Levenshulme, or have a wander around one of the parks.
If you opt to stop off in Levenshulme for a bit of lunch or a coffee, there are a number of place to try. There’s Nordie wine and cocktail bar with pizzas from Soap Street Pizza; Sips & Dips with their authentic Lebanese dishes; and Long Boi's Bakehouse with its stellar range of cakes and croissants.
If you have a little longer to linger, and the sun is out, just off from the loop is Station South, a destination cycle cafe, bar, bike workshop and urban garden.
In 2022, after almost five years of fundraising, construction, blood, sweat and tears, the old railway station house was reopened.
The project was a labour of love for its co-directors and local residents Pauline Johnston, Abigail Pound and Mark Jermyn, who formed a collective to save the dilapidated building and restore it to its former glory.
Straddling the Fallowfield Loop cycleway, it provides a great natural break spot for cyclists and families walking the near eight mile route.
Outside the space, there's a terrace area and pathway up to the loop, making it a great place to grab some food, a drink and soak up the sun.
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From brunch to Sunday lunch, and big burgers to sharing and small plates, visitors can fill up on fresh, seasonal food prepared daily - and they also do cracking Sunday roasts.
The kitchen is open from 9:30am every day until 8:30pm Wednesday to Saturday and until 7pm on Sunday.
