Start: Bretherton Village centre.

 From Preston follow the A59 towards Liverpool. Beyond Much Hoole turn left onto the B5247 towards Chorley. Within a mile you'll come to the village. Park near St John the Baptist C of E church.             

 

Fact file: Distance: 10 k 6miles
                  Time:  2 ½ - 3 ½  hours
                 Summary:  Easy flat walking but with a high incidence of mud.
               Map: OS Explorer 285 Southport & Chorley, OS Explorer 286 Blackpool & Preston

Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette

Directions:  From the church walk along past the rectory (towards Chorley) and turn left onto a footpath leading between the rectory and old school house.

This leads out into a field. Keep ahead with a hedge on the right to begin with.

 At the far side pass through a wide gap to reach North Road.

Cross the road to the pavement and turn left. After passing a farm turn right onto a footpath leading quickly to a footbridge.

 

Beyond this the scene opens out considerably as the path traverses large fields on its way to Much Hoole.

After a footbridge crossing Carr Brook in the middle of a wide expanse of prairie

 bear slightly right to pick up a hedge.

Still keep ahead over a stile to arrive at another next to a metal gate.

Cross this and keep ahead through the next field to reach a metal gate leading into a yard.

 When we checked the route we went through the yard to Town Lane  with no objection and indeed the OS map indicates this right of way but readers should be aware that a wooden gate to the left of the yard

 leads across to a stile that will put you on Town Lane. If in doubt use the gate on the left. Turn right on Town Lane.

 After 150 metres where the lane turns left keep ahead on a path between cottages

and leading out into fields. For the next 3k 2 miles maintain this general direction. 

 

After crossing two fields the path reaches a green lane enclosed on either side by hawthorn and alder.

In winter this by way can be excessively boggy

so progress may be better secured by walking in the field to the right of the lane. It leads onto Carr Lane.

 Turn right and then after a short distance  onto a better track called Twenty Acre Lane.

After 15 minutes or about 1000 metres the lane turns left towards Moss House. Keep ahead over a metal stile 

and cross the next field to a metal gate. Through this continue with a hedge to the left. As the field narrows cross a wooden stile now with the hedge on your right. 

 Follow the hedge to the field corner and turn right over a stile.

Keep ahead to arrive at a track close the road at Cocker Bar.

Turn right onto the track. Compared to what you have encountered  since Much Hoole this track will come as a welcome relief. It is called Moss Lane.

After a left dog leg reached in 20 minutes turn right

 onto a tarmac lane leading to Manor House. Do not enter the yard but turn right just before it and then left on the edge of the field picking up a waymark post along the side a barn. 

 

Continue with hedgerow on the right

swinging left to pass Boundary Farm.

When you come to Dole House Lane

turn left and then right to pass Doles Lane Cottages. Keep ahead with hedgerow on the left.

 Cross a plank bridge on the left,

turn right and keep on the path

when it swings left to the rear of Long Folds Farm. Through the yard pick up the drive

and keep on it to reach North Road. Turn left. After 150 metres turn right onto a footpath

 that crosses a field to a wooden stile.

Over this turn right and follow the field boundary to reach Marl Cop on the edge of Bretherton.

Turn right for the village centre.