The forcast was for drizzle coming in from the west when 14 of our members set out on the 11 mile walk from Longton Brickcroft but we were lucky - we saw none all day!  Longton Brickcroft is a lovely little nature reserve with a visitors centre, toilet block and ample parking.

 

We walked the circuit of both lakes admiring the wild flowers and bird life before crossing the park and passing the 'Golden Ball' before picking up the footpaths across the fields. We skirted Westlands Farm before joining the  Ribble Way to its finish at the Dolphin Inn track. We kept to the embankment looking out across the marshes until we joined the muddy gully of the River Douglas We passed the boatyard and yachts near Hesketh Bank before reaching the junction with Tarleton lock on the Rufford Canal - a branch of the Leeds to Liverpool Canal. Narrowboats can exit this lock and travel down the River Douglas and up the River Ribble to join the Lancaster Canal near Preston to head north.

 

We left the embankment here and came to the A59 at Much Hoole. Keeping to the Old Liverpool Road and a short distance on the A59 we soon were back on the field paths back to our start point.