Tuesday 19th March

Blackburn, but where is the canal?

A wee path down the side of Asda led to the canal

Grimshaw Park bridge (Bridge 101) complete with graffiti

Let the walk begin!

Looking back towards Grimshaw Park bridge (Bridge 101)

Blackburn lock known as Top lock (No.52)

Old industry at Blackburn

Highfield Road bridge (Bridge 100)

Lock 54 and Hall Street bridge (Bridge 99A)

Under Hall Street bridge (Bridge 99A)

Hall Street bridge (Bridge 99A)

Water overflowing the lock gates at lock 55

Sculpture of man on bicycle

Lock 56, Bottom Road bridge (Bridge 99) and the Infirmary Hotel

The Moorings pub at Bottom Road bridge (Bridge 99)

Bottom Road bridge (Bridge 99) and the Infirmary Hotel

Wide section of canal between locks 56 and 57

Lots of industry in Blackburn

Bottom lock (No.57)

A railway bridge (Bridge 98A)

Hollin Bank bridge (Bridge 98)

Blackburn waterside direction sign

Viaduct in Blackburn

On the viaduct in Blackburn which was very high

Blackburn End stand of Ewood Park visible from the towpath

A bowling match in Blackburn

Derelict mill building in Blackburn

Whiteley bridge (Bridge 97)

Damaged mileage marker, 72¼ miles to Leeds

Moorgate Fold bridge (Bridge 96B)

Old industry and graffiti on the outskirts of Blackburn

Kings bridge (Bridge 96A)

Terraced houses at side of canal

Terraced houses at side of canal

Bower House Fold bridge (Bridge 96)

Cherry Tree bridge (Bridge 95)

Old and new buildings on the canal

Out of Blackburn, the walk becomes more scenic

Livesey Hall bridge (Bridge 94) at Cherry Tree

An old phone box at the bottom of someones garden

Remains of an old railway bridge

Old house engulfed by modern development

Feniscowle's bridge (Bridge 93B)

Modern housing on the canal bank

Getting more rural as we get further away from Blackburn

Boundary marker separates Chorley and Blackburn with Darwen

Rural area spoilt by concrete fence

Rural area spoilt by concrete fence

Is this a water tower?

Stanworth bridge (Bridge 93)

At last, out in the countryside

Another damaged mileage marker, 75¼ miles to Leeds

Millfield bridge (Bridge 92)

Finnington Bridge permanent moorings

Finnington bridge (Bridge 91B)

Half mile marker stone

Narrow boats moored at Riley Green

The Boatyard Inn at Riley Green

Riley Green bridge (Bridge 91A)

Riley Green bridge (Bridge 91A)

Moo!

Brimmicroft bridge (Bridge 91AA) for the M65 motorway

Under the wide Brimmicroft bridge

A bridge through a bridge

Ollerton bridge No.1 (Bridge 91)

Ollerton bridge No.2 (Bridge 90)

Ollerton bridge No.3 (Bridge 89)

Heading towards Withnell Fold

Narrow boats moored at Withnell Fold

Narrow boats moored at Withnell Fold

Bridge 88, no name

Canalside industry at Withnell Fold

Magnificent house at Withnell Fold

Jackson's bridge (Bridge 87)

An old viaduct with lots of tall arches

Brown House bridge (Bridge 86)

In the countryside, beautiful surroundings

In the countryside, beautiful surroundings

Simpson Fold bridge (Bridge 85)

Engine bridge (Bridge 84)

Whins bridge (Bridge 83)

Wheelton boat club, private moorings

Eleanor Cherese in need of a clean

Wheelton Boat Yard

Wheelton Boat Yard

Paved towpath at the Top lock (No.58)

The Top lock (No.58), The Top Lock Inn and Top Lock bridge (Bridge 82)

The Top Lock Inn and Top Lock bridge (Bridge 82)

Johnson's Hill locks (No.59)

Johnson's Hill locks (No.60)

Johnson's Hill locks (No.60)

4th Lock bridge (Bridge 81)

Johnson's Hill locks (No.61)

Johnson's Hill locks (No.61)

Thomas taking a photo

Two narrow boats leave Johnson's Hill locks (No.62)

Johnson's Hill locks (No.62)

Johnson's Hillock

Johnson's Hill locks (No.63)

Johnson's Hill locks, Bottom lock (No.64)

On a towpath between 2 canals

Johnson's Hill locks, Bottom lock (No.64)

Signpost and milage markers at the bottom lock

The bridge over the old Walton Summit Branch

The old Walton Summit Branch

View from bottom lock showing our route

No Entry sign for the Walton Summit Branch

Junction for the old Walton Summit Branch

Nice houses on the canal just past Johnson's Hillock

Nice houses on the canal just past Johnson's Hillock

Moss Lane bridge (Bridge 80)

Malt House Farm

Trees all around

A tree growing around a mileage stone

Preston England Temple and the M61 motorway

Modern road bridge (no number)

Knowley bridge (Bridge 79)

Approaching Botany Bay, Chorley

Botany Bay, Chorley

Botany Bay, Chorley

The canal close to Botany Bay

The noisy M61 motorway parallel to the canal

Botany Bay Boatyard

Botany Bay Boatyard

Botany bridge (Bridge 78A)

Road bridge next to Botany bridge

Road bridge and Botany bridge (Bridge 78A)

Botany Bay permanent moorings

Approaching the M61 motorway bridge

Thomas finds the energy for a little run!

Under the wide M61 motorway bridge

Bagganley bridge (Bridge 78)

Bagganley bridge (Bridge 78)

Last stretch, off at the next bridge

Froom Street bridge (Bridge 77A) in sight

Froom Street bridge (Bridge 77A), the end of our walk

Now a long uphill trek in search of the bus station