Ashtnew two

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I started this walk in Newton-le-willows but ended up abandoning it at the A580. You are meant to cross the road here - there’s no barrier and the kerb is lowered - but in the absence of a proper crossing I really didn’t fancy it. So instead I turned right and returned to Newton via Golborne Dale Road (refreshments available at the garden centre on Southworth Road)

If you’re able to take on a longer walk there are other opportunities to cross the East Lancs Road further down.

The Newton-A580 part of the walk is generally easy. There’s some damage to the wooden walkway at the tunnel under the M6, it’s not unsafe but do watch where you’re going. There are some steps here too leading up to Castle Hill (the historic site, not the road of the same name)

Photos show the signpost & path between Castle Hill (road) and the M6; the walkway under the M6; Castle Hill (historic site); signpost at the junction between the path and Rob Lane.

A fairly straightforward route. Although it uses footpaths, it is mostly a road walk, although some of the footpaths may be too muddy or uneven for wheeled users.

From the centre of Ashton-in-Makerfield, we use a few roads with good pavements and crossings to reach Ashton Heath. Past the actual heath, the road becomes unpaved, although it only serves a farm, so little traffic. Here we join a footpath that runs between hedges and the fence of the racecourse. Both this, and the field into which we move through next, can be wet and muddy in poor weather, but not impassable.

At the end, we join another muddy footpath, before taking a junction onto a tarmac track that runs across the starting straight of the racecourse and onto an unpaved track beyond, which is a quiet rural walk, closed to almost all traffic.

From the track, we join a residential road, and from here, it's pavements all the way. There's a busy crossroads to negotiate, where there is a crossing, but you do have to time it right. The road ahead is shaded by trees, and can be covered in wet leaves in autumn and winter.

Approaching the motorway bridge, we take a footpath through woodland away from the road. It's a good metalled earth footpath, and runs past the motte of Newton's former castle. Down a few steps (now mostly slope) and through a tunnel under the motorway, before reaching a boardwalk beyond. As we take a couple of steps onto the field beyond, we take the path to the right up snd alongside the fence, before joining a greentrack across the middle of the fields.

At its end we join a road, which runs into the centre of Newton-le-Willows, passing its pubs and church, and eventually ending at the viaduct of the station.

Both ends are well-served by public transport and shops.

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