Standing in the Worsley Old Hall pub car park, with your back to the entrance drive, walk ahead passing the pub to the left with some hotel buildings visible through the trees to the right. You will come to a metal vehicle gate ahead. Squeeze through the gap alongside this and keep ahead for just a few paces to reach a T-junction with a tarmac path, with the golf course ahead. Turn right along this tarmac public footpath.

As you reach a junction within the path, continue on the main tarmac drive which swings left and heads steadily downhill. At the car park turn left and follow the tarmac lane which passes the greenkeeper’s compound and then dwindles to a stone track. The track leads you through the centre of the golf course. Please show respect for the golfers by keeping noise to a minimum and keep your eyes peeled for any flying stray golf balls.

The track leads you between the two tees for Hole Two, through a narrow belt of trees and then straight across a fairway (Note: allow golfers to play before you cross and take particular care of any stray balls here). At the far side, do NOT follow the tarmac path which swings left, instead keep straight ahead on the narrow stone path into trees. Follow the path winding along for some distance, with the main A580 road audible (and sometimes visible) to the right. The path emerges from the trees to reach a junction of paths alongside the tee for Hole Six.

Turn right along the main tarmac path and, after just a few yards, fork right on to the narrow stone path which follows the hedge line on the right. Follow this path out to reach the pavement alongside the main A580. Turn left along the pavement heading for the traffic lights at the crossroads. As you reach the first line of traffic lights, turn right to cross the main road. (Note: this is a designated crossing point, but there are no pedestrian controls so make sure you watch the flow of traffic carefully to allow you to cross safely). Once you are across the A580, turn left to cross the smaller side road, Newearth Road. Now keep ahead, skirting past the red brick wall, down the small residential cul-de-sac, passing a pub on the right.

Follow the road to the mini-roundabout at the end, where you’ll see St Mary’s Church of Ellenbrook on the left. Keep right here and follow the pavement to the next roundabout. Cross left over Ellenbrook Road with care (at the designated crossing point) and then keep ahead along the Newearth Road pavement to reach the pedestrian crossing.

Cross over here to continue along the right-hand pavement. Just a few paces later you’ll see a combined footpath and cycle path (National Cycle Route 55) signed to the right. Turn right through the wooden staggered barrier to join the cycle path.

The pretty path leads you up a short slope and then levels off for its straight journey between trees. The path is, in fact, an old rail line that has been converted to a recreational path. The point at which you joined the path was Ellenbrook Station and you are heading in the direction of the old Worsley Station. Follow this path for some distance.

To understand the role of the old railway in the area it is worth understanding some of Worsley’s broader history. Now part of the City of Salford, Worsley was previously part of the extensive Manor of Worsley. The centre of the estate was Worsley Park, where the pub is located, and the most famous of the Lords of the Manor was the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, also known as the Canal Duke. The Canal Duke owned many coal mines in the area and had the foresight to commission a canal to improve the local transport system. The Bridgewater Canal, said to be the first true canal in Britain, was opened from Worsley to Manchester in 1761. In fact the canal strategy was discussed at several meetings held within Worsley Old Hall.

This railway, the Tyldesley Loopline, was opened in 1864 to provide a link between Eccles (on the Manchester-Liverpool line) and Wigan (on the West Coast line). A key function of the line was to support the surrounding collieries in conjunction with the Bridgewater Canal. Stations were created at Worsley and Ellenbrook amongst other places. Worsley Station was particularly elaborate to reflect the importance of the village due to its links with the Bridgewater Estate. The station had two first class and two second class waiting rooms and a booking office. The line was closed in 1969 and today provides a valuable wildlife corridor which is alive with bird song in the spring and summer months.

Stay ahead on the main path (Cycle Route 55), ignoring any routes off left or right. The main path is generally the one which stays alongside the right-hand fence line. Some way along, you will be forced to dog-leg left and then right (still on Cycle Route 55) and you will pass under Broadway Bridge. Take a moment to glance up to see the beautiful arched bricks on the underside. Having passed the cast iron pipe bridge which carries pipes over the stream to the left, you’ll come to a red-brick wall ahead (with a road junction beyond). Follow the path with the wall to the right and go down the slope to reach the entrance to the old rail tunnel on the right.

Turn right and follow the path through the old railway tunnel. The tunnel does have some lighting, but take care with children and dogs as the surface can be slippery and/or littered. At the far side continue on the woodland path, still signed as Cycle Route 55.

A little way along you’ll come to a crossroads in the path. Simply keep straight ahead across the small stream with a pretty weir across to the left. Continue just until the next crossroads of paths, with steps up the banks each side. Turn right here, up the steep flight of steps, go through the staggered barrier and keep ahead on the path which passes between properties.

You will emerge out to a residential road. On the building opposite you’ll notice a blue plaque, part of the Worsley History Trail. This was once the home of Richard Clark, an important member of the Methodist faith. Turn left along the pavement and after just a few yards you’ll reach the T-junction with Greenleach Lane. Turn left along the pavement and, as soon as it is safe to do so, swap to the right-hand pavement. Turn right into Beesley Green.

Keep right at the fork, heading for the old cottage with timbered gables and tall chimneys. Before you reach this cottage, fork right again onto the stone path into Worlsey Woods. As you reach the tree line, on the right you’ll see a beautiful carved wooden sculpture of a butterbur (a riverside plant that was once used by Native Americans as a remedy for headaches but that is actually toxic for the liver).

Follow the path down the slope, go through the staggered barrier and you’ll reach a junction. Turn left, signed for Old Warke Dam. This local nature reserve covers about 28 hectares. Along the woodland trail you’ll pass several more carved sculptures of woodland plants. Down to the right you’ll be able to see a pretty stream, Kempnough Brook. As you reach a fork in the path, bear right crossing the bridge over the brook.

This path will lead you towards the M60 motorway, and the traffic noise will be growing steadily louder. Ignore the path down the steps to the left, instead swing right (passing the primrose sculpture) onto the fenced footpath with the M60 to the left. Keep left at the first fork and the path will steadily swing right away from the motorway. The path leads you past St Mark’s School on the left and you’ll emerge out to a residential road.

Keep straight ahead along this until you reach the T-junction with the main A575. Turn right and you’ll see the entrance drive for Worsley Old Hall on the opposite side of the road. For your own safety, continue further along the pavement and cross over using the designated crossing point, then return back to the entrance drive. Follow the drive (taking care of any traffic) back to Worsley Old Hall for some well-earned hospitality.