Knowley
The proximity of a motorway can be an inhibiter of walking an area. Most people go into the countryside for peace and quiet, so that the roar of nearby traffic would be offputting. This walk does suffer from that at its start and finish, but for the most part this is a pleasant ramble through an area rich in heritage with fine views over the Lancashire Plain gained without too much effort.
Total distance: 10 Km or 6 miles.
Time: 2½ - 3 hours
Character: Mainly field, pasture (muddy after prolonged spells of rain) and towpath walking. Mostly easy with a gentle climb of 50m. One steep descent and climb crossing a valley.
Map
Start: Knowley on the B6228. Outside of Chorley and Knowley itself most people would have difficulty finding Knowley on the map. It is in fact the settlement on the east of the M61 by Chorley. Leave M61 at junction 8 and take the A674 towards Blackburn. Cross mini roundabout (Botany Bay on right) and turn right onto B6228 sign posted for Chorley. As this descends towards a mini roundabout, look for lay-by on left. [For readers using bus or train to Chorley follow A6 towards Preston, turning right into Harper’s Lane (B6229) At T junction turn left onto Botany Brow and cross motorway bridge.]
1. Knowley to Higher Wheelton (6 Km or 4 miles: 1½ - 2 hours)
Walk towards the motorway and at junction with Heapey Road turn left into Bagganley Lane ( If walking from Chorley town centre turn right).
After passing Bagganley Lane Farm the track reaches a T junction. Here turn left. Cross a footbridge and pass to the right of a farm house keeping to the right side of the field.
At the next junction of paths, fork left. This will put you on a track past a terrace of houses. When you reach Heapey Lane turn left and almost immediately locate footpath sign opposite.
This will direct you to a footbridge on the far side of the field.
Once over keep the fence on your right to arrive at a wooden stile with a disused railway bridge beyond.
Walk beneath the bridge and bear right following the embankment of the railway.
After another footbridge cross a pasture to a metal gate and stile.
Turn left onto a track which will take you up to Heapey in about 12-15 mins. Beyond the next farmhouse views open out on your left.
The white stone building is the Temple of the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons). Further distant is the gas storage tank at Southport. On reaching the lane turn left and then right onto footpath opposite the chapel.
Follow waymark signs with fence on left.
The path dips sharply into a steep sided valley, then climbs the other side.
Again waymarks will help to confirm direction of travel. Past the next farm the public footpath bears right to enter the yard of the neighbouring farm.
From here bear left to follow track down to the lane. Turn left onto the lane and descend Briers Brow. Just before the Dressers Arms turn right onto a drive which will lead past a farmhouse to reach a grassy track.
Follow this as it turns to the left around a property to reach a stile.
After crossing a broad field, the path drops towards Bancroft Farm through three more pastures following a fence on the left.
On reaching a metal gate turn left through the farmyard to reach Blackburn Road A674 at Higher Wheelton.
2. Higher Wheelton to Knowley (5 Km or 3 miles: 1½ hours)
Turn right onto Blackburn Road and walk down to the Golden Lion. Turn left immediately before the pub onto a track leading through a very well tended pig farm.
Cross the cobbled courtyard of the handsome stone built farmhouse to reach a track that curves down to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.
Cross the bridge and turn left onto the canal. You now have an easy but interesting walk back to Knowley.
From Top Lock Bridge a series of seven locks, close together, drops to the junction with the Walton Summit Branch. This is a remnant of a link that was projected to join the Lancaster Canal at Preston.
Keep on the tow path past Botany Bay on right and exit by crossing bridge 78A for Knowly.
The Dressers Arms
The Dressers Arms is a gem of a pub set as it is in the lovely village of Wheelton. The bar is made of stone, the ceiling is low and the walls are paneled with dark wood. The pub seems to go on for ever with small rooms and alcoves. Photos, books, ornaments and interesting artifacts abound. This place oozes character.
There is a wide and varied menu but we kept things simple with a very pleasant sausage baton. Service was both efficient and friendly.
If all of the above is not enough to entice you then perhaps the 8 hand pulled cask ales might be.
On offer were Lancaster Blonde(3.9%) and Lancaster Black, Thwaites Dark Mild (3.5%), Tetleys Bitter(3.8%), Black Sheep Bitter (3.8%), Eccleshalls Top Totty (4%), Old Dutch's Kletswater(4%) and there own Wheelton Brewery Milk of Magnesia.
We tried the Tetleys and the Lancaster Blonde both of which were in lovely condition and served at just the right temperature. Our only regret was that we couldn't sample a wider selection of these beers!
There is a wide and varied menu but we kept things simple with a very pleasant sausage baton. Service was both efficient and friendly.
If all of the above is not enough to entice you then perhaps the 8 hand pulled cask ales might be.
On offer were Lancaster Blonde(3.9%) and Lancaster Black, Thwaites Dark Mild (3.5%), Tetleys Bitter(3.8%), Black Sheep Bitter (3.8%), Eccleshalls Top Totty (4%), Old Dutch's Kletswater(4%) and there own Wheelton Brewery Milk of Magnesia.
We tried the Tetleys and the Lancaster Blonde both of which were in lovely condition and served at just the right temperature. Our only regret was that we couldn't sample a wider selection of these beers!