With all thy merry minstrelsy:
The restless cuckoo, absent long,
And twittering swallows’ chimney-song;”
Distance: 8Km or 5 miles
Time: 2 - 2½ hours
Terrain: Mainly quiet lanes and field footpaths. A short section of road walking through Higher Wheelton.
Map: OS OL287 West Pennine Moors & OL286 Blackpool & Preston.
Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette
Start:
There is limited parking in the village. Short stay parking is allowed by the community hall providing there is no function there. [Sat nav PR6 8NH] If the intention is to enjoy refreshment at the Cavendish Arms at the end of the walk you can use the pub's car park by arrangement. (Tel 01254 852912To reach Brindle from Junction 3 M65, take the A675 towards Preston. A short distance after Riley Green turn left onto the B5256 to Brindle.
1. Brindle to Higher Wheelton. (3 Km or 2miles: 45 mins).
It may take you a while to leave the village should you chose to browse in the churchyard and especially if you decide to sample the delights of the ancient Cavendish Arms inn. From the church walk back along Sandy Lane 200m towards the motorway bridge to a footpath on right.
This crosses a large field to reach a fence which it then follows on the left to arrive before Marsh Lane Farm.
Turn right onto the lane and walk along it for a little under 400m and then turn left onto a farm track just before Lower Hilton's.
At the farm keep ahead through the yard. The right of way crosses the next field, then after a stile drops through woodland to reach a footbridge.
On crossing the bridge the footpath divides - both lead to the Leeds-Liverpool canal, the one to the left has the merit of reaching it sooner.
Once on the towpath turn right and soon after cross Bridge No.88 and enter the factory settlement of Withnell Fold. Founded in the mid 19th century this little community, originally built for the workers at the paper mill has much to interest the curious visitor. (There is an information board close to the memorial garden.)
Follow the lane up through the settlement. 300m from the canal look for a track on the right leading towards the village recreation ground.
After passing an attractive reservoir the track continues with the raised cricket field on the left. Beyond a metal gate it crosses a field and then turns to the left to reach Chorley Road, (A674) Higher Wheelton.
For the next ten minutes or so the route takes you along the busy A674. Turn right onto Chorley Road. Keep on it for 750m. With a more open aspect on the right turn right onto a firm track and commence a descent back to the canal.
Keep ahead as the track bends left towards Lower Simpson Fold. Soon the canal will come into view. Cross the canal and drop down the embankment to a wooden footbridge.
Once across it keep ahead as the path begins to rise. Keep ahead after a stile next to a metal gate to arrive at a stile on the corner of the next field.
Cross this and continue with the fence on your right to a stile in the hedge of the adjoining field.
Do not cross this stile - instead turn left and with the hedge on your right keep going until you reach a broad farm track.
This leads up to Top o'th' Lane a terrace of cottages prominent on the skyline in front of you. Cross Denham Lane, onto a track taking you close to a trig point at Hough Hill. Here you are rewarded with a remarkably wide panorama of central Lancashire.
Follow the track until it comes to Holt Lane. Turn right. At Holt Lane Farm (a cattery) turn right and follow the track past a radio mast.
Pass through the yard of Holt Farm then bear right. The footpath leads back towards Denham Lane. After a stile in a hedge just before reaching the lane turn left.
With a field boundary initially on your left keep ahead on an obvious path. The village will quickly come into view against a backdrop that includes Hoghton Tower and the Bowland Fells.
The Cavendish Arms.
