Orrell Farmland Circuit

This is a 6.10 km loop west of Orrell, combining farm tracks and grassy paths with a final section on pavement. Given it’s a circuit, you can join it at any point. The mixed surface makes it a good option if you want a varied training run close to town without committing to a fully off-road route. It offers a clear contrast between rural field verges and suburban streets.

The unpaved sections, which make up about two-thirds of the distance, are on trails whose condition depends on recent weather and any farming activity. Expect muddy and potentially soft ground after rain, especially on the grassy paths, so trail shoes are the wise choice for most of the year. The 65m of ascent is mostly concentrated into one noticeable climb past Mountains Farm. It's a short, sharp effort that gets the heart rate up before the route levels off.

After the main climb, the route descends towards Promised Land Farm before transitioning onto the pavements along Sandbrook Road. This last couple of kilometres provides a flatter, faster surface to finish on, with predictable footing that lets you pick up the pace if you have anything left. The run back into Orrell on the road provides a straightforward end to the loop.