Start: Wheelton village centre close to the War Memorial.

 From junction 8 M61 turn onto the A674 towards Blackburn. After passing the sign for Heapey on the right turn next left into Victoria Street.              

 Fact file: Distance: 8k 5 miles
                  Time:  2 - 3 hours
                 Summary:  Mud alert. This undulating route contains some serious patches of mud after wet weather. At this time of year there is no avoiding it! Just be prepared.     
               Map: OS Explorer 285 Southport & Chorley

Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette

Directions: From the War Memorial head up Victoria Street

 to reach the busy A674.

Cross with care onto Briers Brow. Walk up the lane passing the Dressers Arms on the left (recommended) for 500 metres. Take a footpath on the right at the second of two drives close together. 

About 100 metres before you reach a farm yard turn left through a metal gate.

With the field boundary on the right keep ahead to a stile

 leading into the rear of a large property.

 As you near the buildings follow way marks to the left putting you on a drive. Turn left then almost immediately right on path through trees.

 Keep ahead when this emerges into a field close to another large property on the left. Cross to a stile,

 turn right and after 50 metres turn left over a stile. 

With hedgerow on your right follow the path downhill bearing slightly left cross a plank bridge to a stile leading into horse paddocks.

 Keep ahead between paddocks

to descend to the large complex of Logwood Mill Farm.  

When you reach the farm keep ahead along its drive to reach a junction.

 Here turn right.
After 200 metres turn left over a concrete bridge

 and then after another 200 metres turn right over a disused railway bridge

towards Old Withnells. At the far side of the bridge turn right onto a footpath that starts in a very muddy corner of a huge field.

Walk towards the end of a hedgerow and then continue with it on your left. In 300 metres in the left corner cross a stile

 and bear right to cross another.

 For the next 500 metres keep ahead with the field boundary on your left.  After passing a pond on the right

 the path will bring you to a lane.

Turn right and descend to White Coppice.

After crossing a brook

 turn right and walk past a road junction to a small picnic area on the left.

 Cross the footbridge

and follow the path as it leads around to the first of three attractive reservoirs.

With water on your right keep ahead for 800 metres until you reach a lane.

Turn right and walk to the next junction.

Here keep ahead on a footpath that leads beneath a disused railway bridge.

 30 metres beyond this turn left over a stile.

 Follow the path across a large field to a footbridge leading into woodland.

 

After a short distance turn right at a junction

onto a path that leads through trees into more open land.

 

Now in a shallow valley follow the path as it begins to climb along the left side

and then swing more distinctly left towards trees. Passing through a holly patch

climb a slight rise and then drop to a waymark post

following the path downhill as it reaches the rear of properties and arrives at Blackburn Road (B6228).

Turn right to walk down to the busy junction on the A674. Cross at traffic lights and turn left bearing almost immediately right on a path

leading down to Moss Lane (B6229) almost opposite Malthouse Farm Premier Inn.

Turn right and continue downhill to cross the canal

and then turn right to reach its tow path.

With the waterway on your right walk along the tow path to the junction with the Walton Summit Branch. Here cross the bridge to reach the first of a flight of seven locks climbing up Johnson's Hillock.

 Keep along the canal until you reach the top lock cross the road bridge and turn left in front of the Top Lock Inn.

 This lane leads back into Wheelton.