{"id":1008155,"date":"2023-12-01T18:44:47","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T18:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1008155"},"modified":"2023-12-01T18:44:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T18:44:51","slug":"appley-bridge-and-harrock-hill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1008155","title":{"rendered":"Appley Bridge And Harrock Hill"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It’s not officially winter, but it feels like it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a stunning sunny Thursday, I headed off just beyond Wigan, not far from the M6 to an area I had spotted from my walk at Rufford and Burscough a couple of weeks back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a 50 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is 8.7 miles with about 1000 feet of ascent. It took 3 hours 45 minutes, plus 15 minutes for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was plenty of opportunity for dogs to walk or run off the lead, plus a few fairly short road sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked in a clockwise direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 285.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked at Appley Bridge Station, postcode WN6 9AE.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Leeds And Liverpool Canal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A path leads out from the bottom of the car park to a road. I took a right turn under the railway bridge and soon crossed the canal to join the towpath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much of the water was frozen. As ever, there is something very appealing about the lock architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where the water wasn’t frozen, there were crystal clear reflections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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98.5 miles to Leeds, 29 from Liverpool, and time for me to leave the canal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hunter’s Hill Quarry And Nature Reserve<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the canal, it’s uphill across fields. There was a huge flock of starlings feeding here. Some were sunbathing on the wires at the field edge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There were still remnants of autumn to enjoy at the field boundaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I was rising steadily now; and the views out towards the Irish Sea came into view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After reaching the road, I passed The Rigbye Arms pub. I stopped to look at the menu, and it seems worth a visit. I could have stayed on the road, but took the detour around the disused quarry where I expected to see the lake that’s shown on the map, but found it was now in the back garden of a massive, very modern mansion that could only be glimpsed through a hedge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it was still a lovely path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The last section of the quarry is given over to a small Nature Reserve with great views. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There was a lovely bench, and it was frustratingly too soon for lunch, so I just stopped awhile and left my mark in the frost on the seat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From here I could see all the way to Blackpool Tower, and in the far distance, outlines of the Lakeland fells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Harrock Hill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I rejoined the road and dropped down to pass some farms. I turned into a narrow, shaded lane that was steep and very slippery in places. Back on the paths, it was now uphill towards a wood where the muddy paths were just icy enough to make the going reasonably easy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The wood gave way to fields, and then Harrock Hill. I chose to detour to the summit trig point, only to find it located behind a fence surrounding the United Utilities water service reservoir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At this point there were good views to the West Pennine hills beyond Wigan and Bolton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Harrock Hall Farm To Appley Bridge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The return route was soon crossing the manicured farmland of Harrock Hall. The stiles here were posh metal ones, good enough for me to use as a seat and table for my lunch stop!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The route almost reached The Rigbye Arms again, but a left turn led along a lane to a track, and then a path that should have been next to a stream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, much of the path was now in the stream. This walkway demonstrates it well, and I did well to keep my feet dry as I negotiated it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I crossed the A5209 and reached the enchantingly named “Fairy Glen, clearly a local favourite beauty spot and dog walking location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is a lovely spot, and is worth further exploration, particularly around the waterfalls, in spring or summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The final section of the walk crossed suburban fringe which was pleasant, easy walking, before the final stretch down the road to the station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All in all, an interesting area, with plenty of shorter walks too, for anyone who wants to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Enjoy “The Weatherman” from the new album, “History Books” by The Gaslight Anthem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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