Another early morning rise and drive to Wigan, parking at Trencherfield Mill, which houses some offices of the Canal and River Trust and a great “facade”.
From here it’s easy to work my way back to Leigh Junction the few hundred yards so I can start from the Leg 5 end. Lock 22 of the 23 in the Wigan Lock system
It’s then along to Wigan Pier, past the dry dock and a small army of Canal and River Trust volunteers working on the Lock next to it and with views across to Eckersley mill – a vast derelict area.
Hilary and I came here a while ago, and I think it was raining but we were not sure why we bothered. It’s different this time, following the canal towpath the wharf makes sense and once I read the information panels the Wigan Pier references work.
I am amused by Sophie’s reaction of quizzical sniffs at the pier.
The last of the Lancashire football grounds to be passed on this walk. All new stadiums with little trace of the history they could reflect.
The canal here follows the River Douglas and its valley. A really lovely area.
The M6 makes a big entrance as it traverses the canal and a railway bridge – once again those 3 trans-formative transport systems come together – just a shame for the picture there was no train on the railway with an interesting double lock system
Appley Locks are the last set of locks before getting to Liverpool. Barges had the choice between one deep lock or two shallow locks. The two shallow locks were built to save water. The emptying upper lock of a barge going downhill could fill the lower filling lock of a barge going uphill. The sign shows that only the deep lock is currently in use.
The beauty of the River Douglas area has continued, giving more restful views
It seems a long while since I’d hit a village of substance, however Parbold makes up for it.
I’d read about the WWII pillboxes that had been built along the canal as part of the home land defences and sure enough a couple still exist.
Lunch is a stop at The Ship Inn at Lathom, which is where the Rufford Branch heads to join the River Douglas at Tarleton.
Refreshed its back on to the towpath with the now familiar mix of ramshackle and renovated.
Heatons Bridge is the point I leave the canal and follow the road to Ormskirk, where I need to catch the bus back to Wigan. Plan was to have a pint at the Kicking Donkey Inn just outside Ormskirk, but as it turns out, fortunately, there are just boring beers, so I give it a miss. A good job because I only just get to the bus station in time for a bus. The bus though takes for ever to get to Wigan as we visit what seems like every street and round about in Skelmersdale, reminds me of Milton Keynes but not as well preserved; over an hour later I’m back in Wigan for the drive home.
Route Summary
