Bridgewater Canal and Bedford Moss (Gold Route)

Overview

This walk is one of a series of fifteen Jubilee Legacy Walks designed to celebrate the richness and diversity of Wigan Borough’s green space, and provide a lasting reminder of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations of 2012.

This pleasant walk takes in the agricultural landscape, with views to where the mosslands begin. There are several points of interest, including the Bridgewater Canal, or the ‘Dukes Cut’ as it was known, which was opened in 1761 to transport coal from the Duke of Bridgewater’s mines at Worsley to Manchester.

You can also visit the friendly and fascinating Lancashire Mining Museum, home to Europe’s largest mine engine and many other attractions. Another feature on the walk is Morley’s Hall, a Grade II*-listed manor house with its own moat.

Accessibility and facilities

With the exception of the towpath and road, the route is along paths and tracks. There is limited access for wheelchairs, prams & cycles along the towpath only. The walk is therefore not graded as being suitable for wheelchair and pushchair users.

Refreshments and toilets are available at the Lancashire Mining Museum. For opening times, click here.

How to get there

There are two starting points given in the leaflet. The main one listed on this page is at Astley Green, by the Mining Museum (point 4 on the map). The alternative one given is at Marsland Green off the A572 (at the junction with Hadbutt Lane, a little south of the green star on the leaflet’s map).

To work out how to get to and from the walk start points, simply click the Google Maps links on this page. Then click ‘Directions’ and enter your postcode or location in the relevant field. For public transport options, click on the train icon.

Alternatively, input the postcode(s) shown on this page into the TfGM journey planner at https://my.tfgm.com/#/planner/