The Reelers Trail
This section of the Witton Weavers Way may be a little off putting owing to its proximity to the roaring traffic of the M65 motorway at the start and end of the walk. But this should not be a deterrent. By any measure this is a lovely walk – yea even though it passes in the shadow of Lancashire’s waste mountain.
Start: Cherrytree Lane, close to Livesey Library.
From Junction 3 of the M65 take the A678 towards Blackburn. After passing below a railway viaduct look for sign on the right pointing to the library.
Summary: Distance: 12k 7 ½ miles
Time: 3 - 4 hours
Terrain: Easy, with a couple of short sharp ascents
Map: OS Explorer: west Pennine Moors
Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette
Directions: Cross the green to join the towpath of the Leeds Liverpool Canal.
Turn right and pass under the bridge. There is much to engage interest along this stretch - in particular the waterside properties on the opposite side.
Continue along the towpath for 1 mile and then after passing the boundary marker cross a steel bridge.
On the far side follow a waymark leading uphill towards the roar of the M65.
On reaching a wall turn left and drop past a pylon to a fence on the far side of the field. Here turn right and walk under the motorway.
Continue slightly uphill on the edge of a wood cross two fields before turning left into the wood. (To your right looms Lancashire's waste mountain).
The path quickly drops down through trees to a footbridge.
In the next pasture look for a stile on the skyline above you. Climb the steep embankment in order to cross this.
Keep ahead to cross a disused railway by a stone bridge and then turn right for Bradley Farm.
Cross its yard and then continue on a farm track that crosses three fields. As you reach the boundary of the third turn right along the hedgerow and then cross a stile on the left.
Keep ahead with woodland on your right dropping to a stream.
Cross the footbridge and on joining the track on the far side turn right. Follow the track as it leads you into Abbey Village.
As you approach the village turn left onto a service road that leads you besides a reservoir.
Just before a house turn left onto a footpath and then cross or ford the stream.
Bear right onto a broad track. This leads down to the end of a second reservoir. Turn left and cross the dam end.
Still on the track follow it into woodland. After 600m look for a waymark post on the left.
Follow it left to the edge of the woods.
After a metal kissing gate begin to climb the pasture to reach a field wall corner.
Cross a paddock onto a lane.
Turn right and at the junction left. Now in Tockholes bear left at the next junction and then left at the end of a terrace onto a track leading downhill.
This passes the ancient pinfold on your right to reach Chapels Lane.
Follow this as it passes two chapels to the edge of a housing estate.
Here take a footpath on the right. At the next stile turn left cross it and drop gently down hill.
Bear right following the field boundary and then cross a stile and turn left.
Now in a large field continue with a hedge on your left. After a stile enter woodland and follow the path to a wooden bridge.
Cross it and then the stile after. By now it will be apparent you are very close to the M65. Walk towards it and then as you reach its retaining fence turn left over a ladder stile.
Walk downhill and when you reach the lane at the end turn right beneath the motorway.
Continue for 400m and turn right into the drive of farm.
As you approach the building bear left onto a track.
Where this bends to the right turn left and cross the meadow. Locate a stile to the right of the farm,
cross it and after edging around the property follow a drive to the road.
Cross this to another footpath. This takes you past a farm on your left.
Beyond it take a track to the right of a hedge that leads down to Livesey Branch Road.
Turn left and then right into Pinewood.
Now in a residential area keep on Pinewood until after Burford Close then turn right onto a footpath that will take you across the canal to the library.
