Blackburn to Chorley (December 2016)

On arrival at Blackburn Station

We caught the 0705 (or thereabouts) direct train from Leeds to Blackburn.  On our arrival we had breakfast at the nearby Morrisons.  Afterwards we picked up where were left off at Eanam Wharf and began our walk.  We encountered some dodgy characters who were up to no good but we boldly marched onto the Blackburn Flights of locks and crossed the River Darwen via the Aqueduct.

Blackburn town centre

Starting our walk at Eanam Wharf, Blackburn

After the Blackburn suburbs we were surrounded by pleasant countryside.  It was a pity the weather caved in with the rain and the wind!  Luckily we came prepared with wet weather gear and a change of clothing.  It was as well as I slipped on the muddy tow path when I was taking photos of the boundary marker of Blackburn and Darwen and Chorley.   Shaken not stirred we continued to Riley Green where we had a coffee break at the Grill and Grain at the Boatyard.  A lovely pub/restaurant and handy for a comfort break.

Blackburn flight of locks

A welcome coffee stop at the Grill & Grain, Riley Green

Walking a further three miles or so to Wheelton Boatyard and Johnsons Hillock flight of locks.  At the top lock we had a winter cap at the Top Lock Pub.  After which the weather deteriorated for the rest of the walk to Chorley.  My camera packed in as the batteries ran out (so no more pictures!).  The canal doesn't run through the town centre in Chorley so we had to walk approximately 20 minutes or so from the canal to the bus station where we got our bus back to Blackburn.

Top lock, Johnsons Hillock flight of locks

Comfort stop including a wee dram at Top Lock Pub, Wheelton

Walton Summit branch at the bottom lock

Approaching Chorley as the weather caves in!

We waited a fair bit in Chorley and Blackburn for our Blackburn bound bus and Leeds bound train respectively.  This meant a later than anticipated arrival in Leeds.  Because of this we re-reviewed our travel arrangements for our next canal walk.

Church to Blackburn (December 2016)

At the start of our walk on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, Church

We resumed our canal walking after a bit of break since our last one.  Dad and I picked up where we left off in Church from our last walk and walked approximately seven miles to Blackburn.  We chose to drive to Church and parked nearby so we can embark on our walk as soon as we arrived.

We entered the industrial Oswaldtwistle then, out in the countryside, passing West End and crossed Dukenhaigh Aqueduct over M65 to Rishton.  We stopped briefly in the town centre for a coffee and continued walking to Norden where we had our lunch under one of the bridges.  The day was miserable and grey with drizzly rain thrown in! At least the rain stopped from time to time and it wasn't constantly heavy!

We have walked a lot of miles!

We walked for a bit till we reached the Tesco's at Greenbank, on the outskirts of Blackburn, where we had a sit down and coffee.  We saw the former Granada Studios which used to be housed in the Daisyfield Mills building.  We finished the walk at Blackburn's Eanam Wharf and descended into the town centre where we caught a bus to Church.  The bus fare wasn't too expensive for the 20 minutes or so journey and there we returned to our car and drove home via Skipton and Ilkley.

Eanam Wharf, Blackburn

Burnley to Church (October 2016)

We caught the 0805 train from Leeds to Burnley.  We got off at Manchester Road Railway Station in Burnley and we walked through the town centre; we passed some nice historic buildings on our way to the bus station where we used the the toilet facilities and afterwards we walked up to the canal and started our walk on The Embankment (at the point where we finished off our last walk).  We walk through the town's 'Triangle' and were soon crossing the M65 on its aqueduct.

Burnley Wharf & Leeds and Liverpool Canal

Burnley Town Centre

Burnley Embankment

This is the first stretch we walked on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal where we wouldn't encounter any locks at all.  We were instead rewarded stunning views on the canal between Hapton and Clayton Le Moors.  At Whittlefield, we had to take a diversion from the Gannow Tunnel and we eventually rejoined the canal at the tunnel's western portal.

Crossing the Aqueduct over the M65, near Burnley

Autumn on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal

We wanted to stop at pub in Hapton but none weren't opened yet so we continued walking until we popped in The Albion in Clayton Le Moor where we had a well deserved drink and comfort stop.  It was only a short stretch to Peel Bank in Church.  Soon after we reached the official halfway on the canal - after a photo we walked on a bit and we left the canal. We got lost with badly signed directions to the Church and Oswaldtwistle Railway Station and must have gone round the village in circles! We 'accidentally' found the station after seeking directions from a passer-by and we got our train home via Accrington!

Stunning views on canal stretch between Hapton and Clayton Le Moor

Another enjoyable walk of approximately 10 miles and it was nice to have some sunshine too!

Well deserved pint at The Albion Pub, Clayton Le Moor

The official half way point on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal