This is an interesting section of the Leeds-Liverpool canal....

William Huxham

A lovely, interesting route using the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal as far as possible. At this point there is the very short remnant of where the Lancaster Canal originally joined the Leeds and Liverpool....

Mary Oz

Pick up the canal after 3/4 mile and the walk remains on the towpath until half a mile from Wheelton centre and the Red Lion....

William Huxham

There was a tiny section of quiet road at the Wheelton end, but apart from the ends, the entire route was along the towpath of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal....

Mary Oz

Also, at the Wheelton end of the route, the footpath leaving the canal is currently closed due to a big hole in the path where I think it has collapsed....

Mary Oz

It's only the 500m section between North Bank Farm and Denham Springs Farm that is wet and muddy (most of the year I guess!). Pleasant rural footpaths take you to Hill Foot Farm before reaching North Bank Farm where the footpath quality declines rapidly....

greengibbo77

The towpath is wider along this section, and I felt safe on my bike passing dog walkers etc....

Runtoexplore

The final third of the walk became a bit tricky starting from when the route went under the M6. I wouldn't recommend it to women walking alone which is a shame because it's only a tiny bit of the overall walk!...

JessGreen

It was initially tricky finding the right path between the reservoirs, but once there it was very peaceful with beautiful sky and reflections, and views towards the moors....

Mary Oz

The route followed the River Lostock, and I was 65% through the route by the time I left the park altogether. This was once a short section of the Lancaster Canal which joined the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Johnson’s Hillock. The path went through the edge of a horse field, via stiles, and along the back of gardens to descend a slippery, steep, muddy path (a bit overgrown with Himalayan Balsam at the time) to go under the motorway. The path the other side, continuing along the River Lostock, was muddy and a bit overgrown too, but all these paths appear to be in use....

Mary Oz

When I walked this route, in September 2023, starting at Bamber Bridge, the footpath after crossing the A6 by its roundabout with the M6, was closed....

Mary Oz

Passed my 2 nice pubs, lovely setting, The Malthouse, a lovely place to grab a pint or eat....

Jade Fidler

There is no footpath sign from Chapel Lane to point out the very small, hidden almost entry and the footpath is ver over-grown and takes concentration. Then you come out onto a field crossing with no visible footpath over....

Runtoexplore

An easy-going pleasant route, 80% of which is along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal towpath, although perhaps this can get monotonous after a while when there isn’t much scenic variety. A few steep/stepped bits at bridges. An improvement to the route would keep you on the canal until The Top Lock Pub at Wheelton, rather than coming off sooner onto roads....

sasumner

A very enjoyable route which starts with a short climb up to Heapey (partly on roads) before joining an excellent countryside trail through to the picturesque hamlet of White Coppice. Points of interest include St Barnabas Church, the Chorley-Blackburn railway viaduct (disused) and the Heapey Reservoirs. The massive Heapey Bleach Works are now housing though!...

sasumner

Nice route along the canal, some short sections will be pretty muddy in winter. Popular pub just as you get off the canal in Wheelton....

Bramble

After exiting Leyland, it follows quiet pleasant trails and there’s some fun exploration from Whittle-le-Woods to Wheelton. It gets challenging in that last third: there’s a steep cobbled path, tricky navigation to find the tunnels under the M61, some rougher terrain, and a final climb over the Leeds and Liverpool Canal....

sasumner

This is mostly easy strolling on the flat paths of Cuerden Valley Park, which is entered immediately on leaving Bamber Bridge. After leaving the park at Whittle-le-Woods, the route gets challenging for the final third: tricky navigation to find the long dark tunnel under the M61, some rough/steep terrain, and a climb up to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to reach Wheelton. Excellent route!...

sasumner