Tuesday 19th March

Sign post at Rufford Branch

Old cottages at the Rufford Branch top lock

An old dry dock at the Rufford Branch junction

View from towpath bridge towards Rufford Branch

View from towpath bridge towards Rufford Branch

View from towpath bridge towards Rufford Branch

Junction bridge (Bridge 1)

Old cottages at the Rufford Branch top lock

Lathom locks (No.1)

A narrow boat in Lathom locks

Lathom locks (No.1)

Lathom locks (No.2)

View from Lathom locks (No.2)

Runnel Brow bridge (Bridge 2)

Runnel Brow bridge (Bridge 2)

Runnel Brow locks (No.3)

View from Runnel Brow locks

Railway bridge (Bridge 2A)

Wide grass towpath beyond the railway bridge

Moss lock (No.4)

Overgrown canal towpath

Walking at water level

Old and weathered mileage marker

German's lock (No.5)

German's bridge (Bridge 3)

Narrow boat heading towards Rufford

Open countryside and superb views all around

Chicken lock (No.6)

Baldwins bridge (Bridge 4)

View from Baldwins bridge (Bridge 4)

Approching Prescott bridge (Bridge 5)

Prescott bridge (Bridge 5)

Grass towpath and plenty of plant life

Canal not visible because of plant life

Approaching old railway bridge with crossing for farmer

Old railway bridge with crossing for farmer

The A59 alongside the canal

Marsh Meadow swing bridge (Bridge 6)

Another wide part of the grass towpath

Approaching Rufford lock (No.7)

Rufford lock (No.7) and the marina

The marina at Rufford

The marina at Rufford

The marina at Rufford

The marina at Rufford

We stopped for lunch at the marina

Chapel bridge (Bridge 7)

Nice house with great views at Rufford

The canal close to Rufford Old Hall

My lad clowning about for some strange reason

Possibly site of old swing bridge

Town Meadow swing bridge (Bridge 8)

Spark bridge (Bridge 8A)

Total silence, not a soul in sight

Fearn's swing bridge (Bridge 9)

'Oh I've got a brand new combine harvester...'

One of many butterflies in the area

A huge mushroom

Sign of life, a couple of narrow boats

Approaching Strand bridge where we had to leave

Old and weathered mile marker barely visible

Approaching Strand bridge (Bridge 10)

Strand bridge (Bridge 10)

Strand bridge (Bridge 10)

View from Strand bridge, original course of River Douglas

Off the canal, last 2 miles by road

Beautiful houses in Sollom

Beautiful houses in Sollom

Hurst's of Wigan Coaches in a field, Sollom

Old canal building at Bank bridge (Bridge 11)

Looking towards Burscough from Bank bridge

Looking towards Tarleton from Bank bridge

Similar bridge next to canal over River Douglas

The River Douglas close to the canal

A quick drink at the Lord Lilford, Tarleton

An old red Ribble bus

Down another long road in search for the end of the canal

Not far now, just down the side of that house

Just a little too far! The River Douglas

It wasn't an easy place to find, a narrow path behind some houses

Still going, through some trees

The River Douglas, much wider than at Wigan

The River Douglas, much wider than at Wigan

River lock, now Tarleton lock (No.8)

River lock, now Tarleton lock (No.8)

Where the canal joins the River Douglas

British Waterways sign at the river lock

Thomas was filming me, I had no idea!

Looking back towards Burscough

River lock, now Tarleton lock (No.8)

Narrow boats moored at the end of the Rufford Branch

Having a look around and a breather

Another drink at the Cock & Bottle, Tarleton