Today saw Sheila and I making our way to Blackrod, north west of Bolton to join up with others coming a different route to hike the GM Ringway trail from Blackrod to Wigan.
Due to it being half term in the North West the transport system was enjoying a quiet period. The bus to the railway station was 3 minutes early, the train from Rochdale to Bolton was actually on time and although the connecting train from Bolton to Blackrod was 3 minutes late I don't expect the CEO to commit Hari Kari! we also had a seat the whole way, a miracle of the modern transport age.
We met the remaining crew at Blackrod station platform.
We were soon off along the trail, crossing a couple of fields, before crossing the busy A6 road and making our way along an old cobbled pathway which is a legacy of the mining and railway industries. It ran down from the village to the colliery, Blackrod Mill and the railway station.
Castlecroft avenue. As its name suggests, was the site of an ancient castle. There are no remains on the ground now and probably dated from the early to mid 15th century as coins were found during excavations from the year 1467. More than likely built on the remains of a Roman post.
Walking through Blackrod on New St. we pass a row of Weavers cottages with quite a history. The main house on the end which bears a plaque Bobbin Hall Restored 1905 belonged to the boss who was a master spinner and owned the row. The cottages date from 18th century and all had inter-connecting doors so that the boss could walk through. The name Bobbin Hall has no relevance to the row of weavers cottages and the name is likely to come from the fact that the cellar used to make bobbins for the muslin factory in Rivington.
We left the village just before Mackinson's Farm and made our way across numerous fields guarded by electric fences to keep the horses at bay. A tractor caught my eye, it was a John Deere 3103. Quite unusual, this machine was built in Mannheim Germany in 1973. This factory used to be owned by the Lanz company who made the "Bulldog" tractor. It was heavily bombed during WW2. Deere acquired it in 1956 and built some machines with the name Deere-Lanz. I have never come across one of these machines.
Joining a road at the strangely named Little Scotland we passed and turn right at a pub called the Goose and Gander which was called the New Inn in a former life. It's now more restaurant than pub.
At the end of Blundell Lane a large pair of metal gates is the only tell tale sign that once the mineral railway line ran through here. It was from Brinks colliery which only had a short life, being worked from 1898 to 1901. In a field to the north of the gates is an old brick square which I guessed may be part of the engine house of the pit but a quick check tells me the shaft was nearer Aberdeen farm. The brick building looks more modern in hindsight. The mineral line served the many coal pits in the area and must have been quite a sight all those years ago.
We walked adjacent to the modern Aberdeen farm before joining the footpath of the now discontinued Lancashire Union Railway. I tried to find any memorabilia on the ground but alas none. A couple of bridges are still there. Formed in 1863 to transport coal from St Helens to Blackburn. It also transported goods from Blackburn to Glasson Dock. Apart from a short section still operational in St Helens the line closed in 1966.
We came off the old line at the approach to Abbey Farm and crossed the Leeds Liverpool canal at what used to be Arley Hall and is now the 19th Hole of Wigan Golf club. For some reason at this point our route instructions and signposts says that no dogs or bicycles can use the footpaths surrounding Worthington Lakes. We had a dog with us and so we made alternative plans to meet up with Paul and Rufus a little further on whilst the main party stayed on route.
We did notice that during the walk round the lakes that the locals don't seem to take any notice of the signage. It's your choice.
Arley Hall is a magnificent building. It's moated and dates originally from the 12th Century. King Henry 1st confiscated it and then handed over to King John. Numerous wealthy families have owned it but for the last hundred years has been part of the golf club.
As we made our way through the course, signs remind walkers to "Look right" for potential aerial bombardment of golf balls. I don't get why they shout four, we didn't see one!
Once through the slippery slopes and stream crossings in Arley Wood we came out to see the lovely Worthington Lakes (reservoir). Built in the mid 1800's to supply water too Wigan. Today it is a 50 acre nature reserve. It's a pleasant walk with wildlife and at this time of year lots of fungi.
Soon we were on a main road walking past the water treatment plant to Red Rock Brow and new housing development alongside the lake. A row of pleasant old Lakeside cottages, which were probably built when the bleach and dye works was operational here, led us onto a path up hill through water works farm, across the disused railway again and onto the Leeds Liverpool Canal. We were getting peckish now and started to look for a suitable spot to stop for lunch. We kept thinking that some benches will appear around the next corner but they didn't. We just sat down on the towpath for 20 minutes enjoying the brief sunshine.
We left the canal a little further down at Sennicar lane and followed the busy minor road into Haigh Country Park. With it being school half term holiday we found out where all the kids and parents were. It was so busy and noisy. We made use of the toilet facilities before heading off through the throng of people, push chairs, dogs, ice cream vendors, fair ground rides, climbing frames etc etc to pick up the route into Haigh Upper plantation with it's narrow gauge railway that looked like it hadn't been used for years. I didn't take photos here because of all the kids. Sad times we live in.
We crossed the Leeds and Liverpool Canal once again and made progress through Haigh Lower Plantation and noticed quite rare pivot bolt benchmark on the bridge parapet.
At a point in the plantations we came to a crossroads in the trail where we were at odds as to what was the correct route. Rick and I had downloaded the GPX file from the GM Ringway website and this showed the route to go straight ahead. Martin on the other hand had the trail printout with point to point instructions which showed we go right on a smaller path through woodland before exiting back onto the main path. You can go either way I suspect.
Just before crossing the very ornate metal bridge over the disused railway, I spotted some fungi in the undergrowth and there also found a brick from the Orrell Brick and Tile co Ltd, near Wigan. This company closed in 1964 and was wound up in August 1978. The brickworks was taken over by Ravenhead and there is nothing left of the site today.
The good path leads underneath the A49 road and curves round into Wigan central area. It goes through an old walled alleyway which I wouldn't fancy doing in the dark and then onto the main shopping street with Wigan Wallgate station just a hundred metres beyond.
We all got the same train back into Manchester, we alighted at Salford Crescent and waited for the train to Rochdale. The others got off at Deansgate for the tram home.
Once again our luck with the weather had held out. It had been a perfect hiking day. Thanks to everyone for the company and completion of another stage of the trail.
Todays route. 16.20km.
Martin's blog post of todays walk can be found by clicking. Here.
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