Walk Leader: John Clarke

Number on walk: 8

Distance: 14.2 miles

Weather: Dry and warm, though quite windy on the exposed sections on Great Hill

The walk commenced on Blackburn Road in the center of Wheelton village in the area of the old police station. A path was then taken from Blackburn Road through woodland to Copthurst Lane then onto The Leeds to Liverpool canal by the Top Lock public house. The canal which was busy with ducklings and goslings was then followed in the general direction of Blackburn until the village of Withnell Fold was reached. Here the group left the canal and walked through the historic village before crossing the A674 and climbing up Oakmere Avenue where at the top a short coffee break was taken to take in the views across the county to the coast.
The group then dropped down along School Lane into Brinscall where the path by the side of the lodge at the rear of the swimming baths was taken. On reaching the point the goit emerges the path by the side of Hatch Brook up through the Brinscall Plantation was taken onto Well Lane. Well Lane was followed onto Withnell Moor and ultimately to the summit of Great Hill. Just before reaching the summit a relatively rare summer visitor to the area was spotted in the form of a male Wheatear.
Lunch was taken just off the summit, the then refreshed group took the path across to Round Loaf where a relatively little used path down to Moor Road, Anglezarke was taken. Another relatively lightly used path to the side of Anglezarke Reservoir was taken. The group the travelled through the woods by the side of the reservoir to the Watermans Cottage on Moor Road before climbing over Healey Nab.
The group descended from the Nab by the side of Black Brook which was crossed before passing Primrose Cottage. The path to Heapey Road was then taken, this was crossed and a path through fields which passes beneath the embankment of the now disused Chorley to Blackburn railway was taken.
This was followed through to Chapel Lane in Heapey, the lane then being followed back down into Wheelton village.