Barful two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

I continued north towards Barton along the busy A6, crossing safely with lights under the M55 the route now takes the pleasant old road into Broughton with segregated cycle track and pavement. Broughton has an inn and shop. Lights again offer assistance at the by-pass crossing before we take a bridleway along what initially looks like a private drive with easy walking at the start. On the level with Barton we take a footpath left that can be difficult to locate but close to the road it enters the churchyard. The public footpath and plot then leaves the churchyard but it’s best to continue in church grounds to the meeting point by the lychgate where there are bus stops and seats close by.

From Blackpool No.42 bus to Catterall and then pick up No.41 towards Preston alighting at Barton Hotel bus stop. Pleasant walking conditions. Due to building work, the path goes through the grounds of Barton Church [not noticed before despite driving passed many times]. From the church, the path skirts established houses and crosses a small brook bridge, a field and then through industrial farm buildings. From there a track is followed and there is little difficulty reaching Whittingham Lane. Initially this track was muddy for about 100 yards, but soon becomes a tarmacked surface. The drone of the M6 is prevalent which can [for some] be a distraction. The village of Broughton is now a village again due to various bypasses and the quaint setting of the village restaurant is once again worth a visit. After coffee, the walk soon goes passed an ancient "pinfold"; the old A6 is quiet now until the busy Broughton roundabout and M6. The walk then goes along the A6 for about 2km and ends at the Black Bull pub at Blackbull Lane.

The route starts along suburban footpaths between housing, accessed from the car park of the derelict (at the time of writing) pub, or through the churchyard. It then crosses a field (no obvious trodden path) to reach Hill Top Farm mini industrial estate where the route has a short diversion through the yard. There is an enclosed footpath leading down to a narrow bridge out onto a lane by some new houses. The lane continues alongside fields and is muddy in places. It becomes a tarmacked farm road which is very pleasant, although the sound of the M6 is evident.
The B5269 is a fairly quiet suburban road with very nice houses. The A6 is crossed safely via a pelican crossing, well away from the busy roundabout. The village of Broughton has benefitted from the A6 being diverted to bypass it, and has pub, restaurant, supermarket and petrol station, and the paving has been upgraded to calm any traffic. The busy and fast M55/A6 roundabout has been made safe with pelican crossings and the final section is on wide pavements alongside the A6.

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