Wigan: Hall Lane Loop

Sunday's 25th January 2015s 5.4202 miles (8.723 km) Meander is available at... http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6521818

The weather forecast wasn't that wonderful but, it was warmer, and it didn't rain. In fact it was an enjoyable walk.
However the planned route changed for the initial part as the disused railway was more of a river than a path.
Our starting point was the bridge over the disused railway line in Hall Lane. If you are driving out of Wigan, on the A49, you need to look out for, and turn right down, Leyland Mill Lane.
Cross the bridge over the River Douglas, at the mini-roundabout take the second exit and head up hill along Hall Lane.
Taking the small track on the right, on the Wigan side of the bridge, we planned to go down into the railway cutting. we delayed this, as explained earlier...

...until we reached the first "green" bridge.

Railway Cutting looking back at the Green Bridge.

The route is fairly obvious as, we headed towards Whelly, Hindley and Platt Bridge, and there were lots of signs of spring, in the form of catkins (lambs' tails).

We eventually reached the Leeds Liverpool Canal.

Turning left along the tow path we headed up past the flight of locks. These were currently being worked on...

...and therefore not in use.
Above the top lock we saw an excited fisherman who had just landed an impressive catch...

The tow path then turned left and we continued past swans...

...fairly tame moor-hens...

...more signs of spring...

...Haigh Hall (and the golf course)...

...and we left the tow-path at bridge 62...

Turning left down Pendlebury Lane, we came across the "Sad" element of our walk; a dead fox, lying on the other side of a hedge.

Poor Mr/Mrs Fox!

After passing the new housing Pendlebury Lane becomes Wingates Road and the River Douglas can be seen on our right.
Eventually we reach the junction, mini-roundabout, with Leyland Mill Lane and Hall Lane.
Here we crossed the road and took the narrow cobbled footpath leading uphill (cutting off the sharp corner. 
Turing right, once we reach Hall Lane, we continued back to our starting point.
A very enjoyable walk which, if you get the chance, is well worth doing!

The Paths to Wigan Pier

We started todays 6.1618 mile walk, map available at http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1763798, in the car park behind Trencherfield Mill, Wigan Pier.

The floor of the piazza has brick paving that suggests a large rug and giant dominoes. You can make out the carpet element in the picture above.
On the wall, part of Wigan's Public Art Trail, are Andy Hazell's Three Heads. Installed in 1999, they were part of an exciting mechanical sculpture (automata). The Three heads sat on the wall above a giant mantle piece which featured symbols of the Twentieth Century and a clock. We could only see the heads - the middle one providing an ideal nesting place for a rock dove!

Wigan, in general, is closed on a Sunday so the initial walk through the urban environment wasn't as bad as it could have been. The lack of people allows you to see the part-pedestrianised streets at its best. We were confused by the instruction "Just before a dual carriageway go right down setts to St George's Church"; it was the word 'setts' that confused both Chris and I. If you are confused as well it is an old term for cobbles or Cobble Stones! Of course it is!
The River Douglas was joined near where the old Wigan Rugby League Stadium used to be (a Tesco now) Ben and Mandy may remember watching Orrell playing there some years ago.
Past an old quarry called Devil's Canyon, (That's 2 weeks we have seen property of the Devil!), now an adventure playground, we climbed up past former almshouses know as The Receptacle.
Many of the bridges on our route had cast-iron parapets. Apparently Lord Crawford of Haigh Hall made his fortune from iron and seems to have liked to use it ornamentally on the estate.
The last parts of our walk took us briefly onto the canal towpath near Haigh Hall Golf Course and then back through woodland, along an old railway track and the down the Wigan flight of locks from Rabbit Rocks back to Wigan Pier.
It is interesting that Trencherfield Mill Engine is reputedly the world's largest, original working, mill steam engine, the four-cylinder 2,500 hp giant was built and installed in its specially designed engine house at Trencherfield Mill in 1907.  It’s 70 tonne flywheel enabled power to be sent throughout the vast Mill on all five floors, powering thousands of cotton spinning machines.
A very enjoyable walk and perhaps one we will revisit soon, when the bluebells are out!

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