The RHS Walking and Cycling Links route is a scheme designed to improve walking and cycling links to RHS Garden Bridgewater in Worsley and to other local facilities, including Walkden train station, Parr Fold Park and Boothstown Marina. The original proposals received overwhelming endorsement at a public consultation in early 2020.
Funded jointly by the Mayor’s Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund, Growth Deal and Salford City Council, the completed scheme connects residents of Boothstown, Walkden and Worsley with RHS Garden Bridgewater. It provides 6.2km of new or upgraded walking and cycling routes, 4.6km of which are traffic free – including a link along the north towpath of the Bridgewater Canal.
Work included:
- An enhanced north-south route from Walkden Station to the garden, linking to the A580 Guided Busway, which connects with Leigh Road.
- A traffic-free route along the north of the Bridgewater Canal linking Worsley (via Worsley Court House car park off Barton Road) and Boothstown (via Quayside Close) to RHS Garden Bridgewater.
- New pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities on the East Lancashire Road (A580), Leigh Road (A572), Walkden Road (A575) and Birch Road.
- The route also connects into the existing traffic-free network in Salford, including the Bridgewater Way, Roe Green Loopline and Tyldesley Loopline.
Booths Hall Bridge over the canal at Boothstown will also be refurbished to enhance the route further.
There is a Green Travel offer available for visitors to RHS Garden Bridgewater travelling by bike or on foot. Please see below for details about how to get to the garden using the RHS Greenway from different directions.
Directions to access the route along the north of the Bridgewater Canal between Worsley and Boothstown are as follows:
- Access from Boothstown is via Quayside Close
- Access from Worsley is via Worsley Court House car park off Barton Road
- Continue along the route until you reach the signs indicating the entrance to RHS Garden Bridgewater (access from the canal towpath is via a ramp or steps)
- Follow the path to the garden entrance
- Bicycle racks are situated to the left of the entrance to the Welcome Building
- Watch the RHS video guides to the routes along the RHS Greenway to the garden:
For those travelling along the Bridgewater Way towpath from Wigan and Leigh:
- Cross over the canal at Booths Hall Bridge, Boothstown
- Follow the road to the right and turn into Quayside Close
- Continue along Quayside Close to the entrance to the marina, from where access to RHS Greenway is signposted
- Continue along the route until you reach the signs indicating the entrance to RHS Garden Bridgewater (access from the canal route is either via a ramp or there are steps further along)
- Follow the path to the garden entrance
- Bicycle racks are situated to the left of the entrance to the Welcome Building
For those travelling along the Bridgewater Way from Manchester, Trafford, Eccles and Monton:
- Come off the towpath when you reach the Humpback Bridge at Worsley
- Cross over Barton Road (on your left) using one of the two crossing points
- Turn right and head in the direction of the roundabout
- Access to RHS Greenway is signposted via Worsley Court House car park
- Continue along the route until you reach the signs indicating the entrance to RHS Garden Bridgewater (you will reach the stepped access point first, carry on a short distance for sloped access)
- Follow the path to the garden entrance
- Bicycle racks are situated to the left of the entrance to the Welcome Building
For those travelling along Port Salford Greenway:
- As your reach the end of Farm Lane, turn left and travel along Barton Road for a short distance until you reach the signposted entrance to RHS Greenway via Worsley Court House car park
- Continue along the route until you reach the signs indicating the entrance to RHS Garden Bridgewater (you will reach the stepped access point first, carry on a short distance for sloped access)
- Follow the path to the garden entrance
- Bicycle racks are situated to the left of the entrance to the Welcome Building
The £3.2m RHS Cycling and Walking Links scheme is part of the Bee Network, connecting communities in all ten Greater Manchester authorities, benefiting 2.7 million people and making cycling and walking a real alternative to the car.
RHS Cycling and Walking Links was developed in partnership with Salford City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), Peel L&P, the Worsley Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club and Asa Homes.
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This page was last updated on 11 April 2024