Also note that there is a pavement route from the Burscough Junction Station heading south east on Junction Lane, then east along the busy A5209. Other history along the route includes several wartime pill boxes on the other side of the canal, as well as several aqueducts over rivers and lanes....

Mary Oz

At the time I walked it, there was a short towpath closure at Crabtree Bridge Farm, near Burscough, but the diversion was easy, across a level bridge, along the path the other side, next to moored boats for 200 metres, and back over another level swing bridge....

Mary Oz

The route of the path was not really clear but I got directions across a field with horses to a stile and one of the many interesting little foot bridges on this route (pics) which seem to be a feature of this area. Popped out onto Green Lane and although I could see where the footpath continued (between some houses), it was completely impassable (pics). Once I got through that bit it opened out again with a path between the fields but very close to the end at Downholland Cross it closed up again with summer foliage and it proved impassable so I retraced my steps back to Green Lane. I thought this was a lovely route with LOADS of interest and fantastic views but the latter part (basically Formby Lane to the finish at Downholland Cross) though does not seem to be walked much and, it being summer, was very overgrown and in the end impassable. There were some access issues though with overgrown foliage and some of the paths little used and not always being able to be seen clearly on the ground and the foliage rendering the path impassable in two places when I walked it....

Dinah Kelly

I've not walked this route, but I've walked the two separate routes that forms this. They're both very good walks, but I don't see the point in combining two Slow Ways to make one. Personally I would avoid Ormskirk altogether and use the canal to bypass it to Burscough, a route I'll try in the near future....

Hiking Historian

This is a predominantly flat route following the Leeds & Liverpool canal, and is made up of a variety of surfaces - tarmac, loose stone, cobble and unmade (often becoming muddy after rainfall)....

Dannywith

Starting at the station in Burscough, after a couple of paved roads, we join the canal. The footpath goes straight ahead, but you can also follow the track that runs to the right, which we would join later anyway. Despite not marked on the map as a footpath, at a stile we can continue ahead to the next junction, where there is a footbridge we can use in wet or muddy conditions which leads to a stile....

Hiking Historian

First, on leaving Burscough, the route follows the unpaved Flax Lane, which has many blind corners and quite commonly used by motorists....

Hiking Historian

Route is very common route for locals in this area wanting to walk between Burscough and Parbold. Limited on road walking and all of that on quiet roads. Canal predominantly good route though some patches that can get narrow or muddy....

gracar2002

At Top Locks the route takes you across one of the wooden footbridges - while these are fun, there's also a stone bridge for those following an accessible route, but if you take a walk down the Rufford branch towards the Ship Inn, you'll find a variety of ways to cross the locks and overflow channels (and a lovely beer garden if you want some refreshment on a sunny afternoon!)...

Mike Nolan

Starting from Burscough Junction railway station, pass through the modal filter into Ainscough Drive and Mill Lane. As you cross the canal there are steps down to the towpath but stair free access is available through the Wharf (note that the gates are usually shut at night)....

Mike Nolan

Much of the route follows shared use paths so it's a nice way to cycle between Ormskirk and Burscough but less confident cyclists may choose to stay on the pavement along High Lane....

Mike Nolan

The least accessible section - which follows the old railway out of Ormskirk station and is heavily overgrown with some steep steps up to the bridge - can be bypassed through Waterworks Road or Nursery Avenue to Greetby Hill....

Mike Nolan

Part of the walk is along a disused railway line which has been designated as a public footpath and named The Smith Way....

Eric Wilson

The beginning isn't quite right: there is no right-angled footpath in the new housing estate, and access for all to the towpath is via the Wharf shopping centre, or by foot via steps. I've amended it slightly as BURPAR Two to take in these changes....

Hiking Historian

Route is a great canalside wander through a peaceful countryside stretch. Amenities at both ends of this just over hour-long jaunt. Towpath can be muddy at times, but the route throughout is suitable for foot, bicycles and most wheelchairs....

Hiking Historian

Mostly a wander along an old railway (at time of writing, blocked in places by fallen trees), and across some fields, often wet and muddy. That said, it's a good way of connecting the two places; just a shame it excludes wheeled users....

Hiking Historian

I would recommend using the canal tow path from ///dunes.proposals.labels up to ///salad.roving.delays as it is a better path, shorter and is a lovely walk (I walked back using this route and saw a kingfisher)....

Stearsb