It was a lovely dry day, (if not a little chilly), when we met up at Piccadilly station for our train journey to Patricroft. From here, we joined the Bridgewater canal and walked into Monton. The walkers were challenged to look out for a lighthouse and when they found it, they were rewarded with a jelly sweetie. Yes, there is a lighthouse in Monton and the photograph proves it.  It was built by “Barnacle” Phil Austin, initially as his home, but he soon built a small house next to it where he lived, and he used the lighthouse as his office and a chance to get a bit of privacy. It is 40ft tall and he even built a light on the top which actually lights up, although he now only lights it on special occasions. I guess a visit by the SMu3a walking group doesn’t count as special.

From Monton, we left the canal to join the Roe Green loop line, which is the route of a former railway line. This walk took us through a small wooded area until we branched off towards Old Warke Dam. We walked down to the lake created by the dam and built by the 1st Earl of Ellesmere to create his own fishing lake. After walking part-way around the lake we made our way down to Worsley via Worsley Delph, which is the start of the Bridgwater canal, built by the 1st Duke of Bridgewater in 1761 to transport coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester. His was the first commercial canal in Britain and kicked off the canal mania of the 18th and 19th centuries.

From here it was a short walk along the canal to the Barton Arms pub for a very enjoyable lunch.