Over the last two to three hundred years the Mersey catchment has been managed in order to serve the needs of the Industrial Revolution.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the Worsley area. Here can be explored the origins of the Bridgewater Canal.

1. From the car park turn away from Worsley and negotiate the often horrendous traffic roundabouts.

Use the left hand pavement towards Leigh and Bolton and look to the left.

At a complex of hotels and a golf course turn to the left and approach Worsley Old Hall, which is the perfect place to enjoy a morning coffee.

This is the one-time home base of the Duke of Bridgewater. In the late 1990s the whole area was in a sad state of repair but a wonderful restoration has recently taken place.

The old Duke would now be proud of the place. The Old Hall was an important familt home for the Egertons from Elizabethan times but when the canal was being planned the building was being used as living areas and offices.

At the same time the first Duke built a new hall of red brick.

2. Return from the Old Hall and find the Church of St Mark across the road. Whilst the canal Duke would recognise his halls, this church and its spire would be a new experience for him. The first Earl of Ellesmere rebuilt the old parish church in 1846. He sited this one on the steep hill called Worsley Brow which then overlooked the village.

3. Perhaps because they don’t expect to find nature so close to motorways visitors often miss the joys of Worsley woods. These were also largely the work of the first Lord Ellesmere.

4. Worsley Hall is worth a diversion and is too often missed by visitors. Those who do visit sometimes confuse it with Worsley Old Hall. Worsley Hall dates to the 16th century and is now the residence of the Roman Catholic bishop of Salford.

The hall is the last resting place of the skull of Ambrose Barlow, a Catholic priest during the turbulent early years of the 17th century.

5. From Worsley Hall retrace the route and bear left into Worsley. Divert to the right and look to the left over the mine entrance of the canal. This mine entrance was a triumph for one of the unsung canal engineers John Gilbert.

6. From the mine entrance return to the village.

7. From the chimney on the green approach a metal bridge.

8. Turn right and divert to find the old packet house.

9. Return along the towpath from the Packet House; pass the Bridgewater Hotel on the right and the footbridge on the left. Keep to the left of the canal and look over the water to the historic boatyards.

10. Continue to follow the towpath towards Manchester.

11. Continue along the towpath to reach the Barton Swing Aqueduct.

How to get there

From the M61 and the M60 turn off at Junction 14. Take care to negotiate two roundabouts. Follow the signs towards Swinton.

Just into Worsley and find a car park on the right.

Distance: Six miles Time: Allow four hours