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Worsley - Saturday 13th May 2017

You would not normally associate Worsley, Greater Manchester with the country side  and a place for a ramble but within this suburb of Manchester lies a walk which you would only expect to find much further afield.

Starting from the car park adjacent to the motorway the route takes you along the Bridgewater Canal towards Manchester, Then at Monton Green your turn right, at the 'lighthouse' on the left, onto the Roe Green Loop Line. This line originally linked Worsley with Bolton before closure in 1969 It was reopened in 2016 as a cycling and pedestrian route and is now an attractive woodland walk teeming with wildlife.

Leaving the Loop Line at Beeson Green a short walk along the road brings you to the entrance to Worsley Woods. Another attractive woodland full of wildlife and native plants. Wood carvings of plants are to be seen along the path and if you look carefully in the locations the wild plants can be found in the undergrowth

The path eventually opens out into the Old Warke Dam where the old estate lodge, known locally as the 'Gingerbread House'  is sited. Further along is a platform extended into the dam and from here there are views of the woodlands across the water and the 'Aviary' an old hunting and fishing lodge which belonged to Lord Egerton. As expected there is plenty of water fowl to be seen in this area.

Following the route at the side of the water you come to a path on the right leading to Worsley Delph. Again this is another natural woodland area full of interest and access has been made easier by the addition of a boardwalk in the wet areas.Returning from the Delph a short walk brings you back into Worsley and on the last stretch you have the opportunity to see the part of the old industrial heritage before returning to the car park.

There are plenty of tearooms, restaurants and pubs for lunch or a snack at the end of the walk.

Coffee break Worsley Station

What time is the next train!

Roe Green Loop Line

Through the tunnel

Wood carving entrance to Worsley Woods

Worsley Woods

OLd Warke Dam

Viewing platform. Aviary Lodge in background

The Delph


   

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