We walked from Whitebirk Bridge to Riley Marina on Thursday May 25th.

Take 15 intrepid canal walkers, a canal through downtown Blackburn and a very hot sunny day and you have a surprisingly green and pleasant walk. We started on a round about at Whitebirk, on the east side of the former cotton town of Blackburn, with the warning that this would be quite an “industrial” walk. Quickly we saw our first large former cotton mill called Imperial designed by Sidney Stott in 1902. It was a bit ‘down at heel’  but the more observant members noticed that it was still in use with a variety of users. A little further on was Daiseyfield Mill much restored as offices for Granada(?)

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April was the first time the Canal Walking Group used a mini bus to take them to the start and pick them up at the finish of the walk.  This proved to be very successful, we left the canal halfway through the walk and had a look around a small village where we had lunch.  We finished up at a pub were we had a welcome drink in front of a blazing fire and planned our next walk.  We have now reached Riley Green Bridge which is number 91b. We are hoping to reach Skipton by November which is bridge 179.  Everyone agreed this stretch of the canal had been the best so far.  So onwards and upwards,  we will be walking from Riley Green to Whitebirk Bridge next month. Thanks to Tommy for taking great photographs. Read David’s update from April walk Continue reading →

This group has two places available on the mini bus on 27th April .  The group will be walking from Cowling Bridge to Riley Green.  The walk is approx 7 miles long.  We also have places on the May walk which is from Riley Green to Whitebirk Bridge, again this walk in approx 7 miles.  If you are interested in joining the group on either or both of these walks please contact Brenda McKenzie on 0151 531 0207 or come to Group Support Table on a Tuesday morning.

April Walk -Chorley enjoys an excellent reputation for its lively markets which date back to at least to 1498, In the Middle Ages the parish church is said to have had a reliquary containing some of the bones of St Laurence. Close to the town is Astley Hall, the Elizabethan former home of the Charnock family, well worth visiting and entry is free(check opening days/hours first) and contains the bed where Cromwell slept after the battle of Preston in 1648.

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The Canal Walking group are now going to use a mini bus to transport the group to the start of the walk and to pick them up at the end of the walk. Due to some of the group being on holiday we have two seats available on 25th May.  We will be walking from Riley Green Bridge PR50SP to Whitebirk Bridge BB13HW approx 7 miles.  The price will be £13 to cover mini bus.  If you would like to join us on this walk please contact Brenda McKenzie on 0151 531 0207 or 0790052522 to reserve your place. 

Leeds Liverpool Canal – New Springs to Cowling Bridge

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The leg from Wigan (New Springs) to Chorley (Cowling Bridge) was postponed from February because of Storm Doris. Most of the group will complete it on March 23rd, but four will not be available that day so walked it today.

Details of the next leg have been emailed out to group members.

We are walking from Gathurst to Top Lock in Wigan on 26 th January.

Leeds Liverpool Canal Walk 24th November 2016

We started in the narrow valley of the R Douglas at Gathurst which was shared with the canal and railway on an unbelievably beautiful morning. After a couple of hundred yards we passed under the spectacular M6 viaduct and low rail bridge , not to be out done immediately adjacent where a twin set of canal locks with handsome bay windowed lock keepers house.

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The joys of walking on the Leeds – Liverpool Canal

Our first walk of the U3A  Leeds/Liverpool canal group took place on 27^th October, almost 246 years to the day after the first sod was cut on 5^th Nov 1770.

14 walkers set out from near the appropriately named Ship Inn at Haskayne, led by an energetic Judith Jones at 1030, arriving at Burscough 3hrs later which included a canal-side alfresco packed lunch near Heaton’s Bridge.

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