Appley Bridge And Harrock Hill

Introduction

It’s not officially winter, but it feels like it.

On a stunning sunny Thursday, I headed off just beyond Wigan, not far from the M6 to an area I had spotted from my walk at Rufford and Burscough a couple of weeks back.

It’s a 50 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme.

The walk is 8.7 miles with about 1000 feet of ascent. It took 3 hours 45 minutes, plus 15 minutes for lunch.

There was plenty of opportunity for dogs to walk or run off the lead, plus a few fairly short road sections.

I walked in a clockwise direction.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 285.

I parked at Appley Bridge Station, postcode WN6 9AE.

Leeds And Liverpool Canal

A path leads out from the bottom of the car park to a road. I took a right turn under the railway bridge and soon crossed the canal to join the towpath.

Much of the water was frozen. As ever, there is something very appealing about the lock architecture.

Where the water wasn’t frozen, there were crystal clear reflections.

98.5 miles to Leeds, 29 from Liverpool, and time for me to leave the canal.

Hunter’s Hill Quarry And Nature Reserve

From the canal, it’s uphill across fields. There was a huge flock of starlings feeding here. Some were sunbathing on the wires at the field edge.

There were still remnants of autumn to enjoy at the field boundaries.

I was rising steadily now; and the views out towards the Irish Sea came into view.

After reaching the road, I passed The Rigbye Arms pub. I stopped to look at the menu, and it seems worth a visit. I could have stayed on the road, but took the detour around the disused quarry where I expected to see the lake that’s shown on the map, but found it was now in the back garden of a massive, very modern mansion that could only be glimpsed through a hedge.

However, it was still a lovely path.

The last section of the quarry is given over to a small Nature Reserve with great views.

There was a lovely bench, and it was frustratingly too soon for lunch, so I just stopped awhile and left my mark in the frost on the seat!

From here I could see all the way to Blackpool Tower, and in the far distance, outlines of the Lakeland fells.

Harrock Hill

I rejoined the road and dropped down to pass some farms. I turned into a narrow, shaded lane that was steep and very slippery in places. Back on the paths, it was now uphill towards a wood where the muddy paths were just icy enough to make the going reasonably easy!

The wood gave way to fields, and then Harrock Hill. I chose to detour to the summit trig point, only to find it located behind a fence surrounding the United Utilities water service reservoir.

At this point there were good views to the West Pennine hills beyond Wigan and Bolton.

Harrock Hall Farm To Appley Bridge

The return route was soon crossing the manicured farmland of Harrock Hall. The stiles here were posh metal ones, good enough for me to use as a seat and table for my lunch stop!

The route almost reached The Rigbye Arms again, but a left turn led along a lane to a track, and then a path that should have been next to a stream.

Unfortunately, much of the path was now in the stream. This walkway demonstrates it well, and I did well to keep my feet dry as I negotiated it.

I crossed the A5209 and reached the enchantingly named “Fairy Glen, clearly a local favourite beauty spot and dog walking location.

It is a lovely spot, and is worth further exploration, particularly around the waterfalls, in spring or summer.

The final section of the walk crossed suburban fringe which was pleasant, easy walking, before the final stretch down the road to the station.

All in all, an interesting area, with plenty of shorter walks too, for anyone who wants to explore.

And Finally….

Enjoy “The Weatherman” from the new album, “History Books” by The Gaslight Anthem.