Has anyone ever ridden the ship canal for a decent stretch – say Salford to Warrington? Does it have a path, or is it very broken up with all the factories etc? Was wondering which side was better as there doesn’t appear to be that many bridges at that end of it that would be accessible with the bike.

Avery small bit is accesable at ince marshes in frodsahm, then in Warrington, it ruins from Arpley landfill near the transporter bridge, to the locks ,but lots of motor cycle restrictors, then if you follow the signs fot the TPT, route 62 of the Natonal cycle network it borders it a few times,

Youhave the bridgewater and the leeds liverpool which do have towpaths

They don’t have towpaths on the Manchester ship, as they found they needed too many horses to pull these:

It was costing a fortune in sugar lumps. If you want to get from Manchester to Warrington, you can do it. Mersey Valley, Trans pennine trail to Lymn for example, then country lanes, over Warburton bridge then maybe Chat Moss.

As flat and interesting a route as a towpath

Bridgewater is a good shout, might look at that. Basically want an alternative to the TPT as I’ve ridden it a fair bit now.
The Ship canal looks rideable from about Warburton bridge onto Warrington, north side, on Google earth. Closer into Manchester doesn’t seem feasible.

Not an immediate fix for your problem, but this might be worth tagging along for in a few months:

Bike Events – Manc to Liverpool

The transpennine trial through Warrington is like the French Riviera.

Until you reach the power station and glue factory, obviously.
You may also want to avoid continuing on to Speke. No, really. Don’t.

Down the TPT to heatley then over Warburton bridge and up the road to Irlam. Go down astley street in Irlam and head over Chat moss over the railway to astley. Join the Bridgewater there and ride right to manchester or left to leigh and beyond.

I was through the TPT last Sunday – lovely morning, only saw 3 pitbulls on the Norris Green section.
Bumped into the Wigan Wheelers arlarse ride on that part and rode along with them for bit.

On the Bridgewater Canal section through Grappenhall & Lymm there are ‘No Cycling’ signs on the tow path. I know cyclists ignore it, but they are there!

If you can get to Warburton Bridge then you can join the A57 for a bit on the cycle path up to Irlam locks.

At Irlam locks you can get onto the path at the side of the ship canal that takes you up past the back of new salford reds stadium and under Barton bridge which is a crazy urban stretch but more interesting than tow paths. Then you come out again at Eccles swing bridge.

I’ve never gone any further towards Salford after that.