Walk Leader: Stephen Martin

Number on walk: 18

Distance: 13 miles

Weather: Sunny

The second part of the two part Beacon Bash started at 10am on the car park at Beacon Country Park, Beacon Lane, Upholland  WN8 7RU.  In Attendance there where eighteen LDWA members and three dogs.

The walk started with a very slight chance of rain.  Waterproofs were don which proved an excellent choice for the first few hundred metres of un-kept Public Right of Way (PRW). Long grass and wild flowers rain sodden, lent across, soaking us as we went.  However, once off the path and ascended the Beacon point (172m) waterproofs where doffed.  Traversing a difficult slippery PRW and wooden foot bridge to Long Hey’s Lane we turn left and descended the steep lane, turning left across fields to Hillock Lane, Higher Lane and finally Cobbs Brow Lane. The paths muddy in places; slippery down steep, short descents. A short 150m walk along the busy lane we took a PRW on the right, back across the field to the wood and followed the stream down to Newburgh.  However, along the path was a fallen tree.  Some climbing under, whilst others routed around it. 

Once down to the main road (Ash Brow A5209) we took a right turn and after a short distance took the PRW on the left down to the Leeds Liverpool canal. After a short stop in Parbold, we picked up speed along the canal to Apply Bridge where we had lunch at around 1300hrs.

Once lunch was over we took a sharp right a the PRW sigh on Apply Lane South after crossing the River Douglas, following it along the Douglas before bearing left to the woods and up to Lees Lane. After a left turn on Lees Lane we then went right at Cross House farm following another PRW blocked by a fallen tree.  Once we reached Back Lane we took a left then a right up Stone Hall Lane (more of a path these days), where a Buzzard was spotted carrying a dead Blackbird.  After the steep climb and on reaching Stone House, a slight right took us onto Crow Lane. After a short distance a PRW was taken, descending to Roby Mill.  Once at Roby Mill a left turn to the next PRW on the right, we took the path down past the ‘crocodile and gorillas’ onto Walthew Lane following the broad path some distance to Lafford Lane.  Once reached, a sharp right took us passed Jollies Dean Farm to another PRW on the left up to College Road. Turning left brought us to St Joseph’s College gates.  A short talk about the college was given. Just passed the gates Stoney Brow lane on the right took us up to Mill Lane, once over Mill Lane a walk across the field took us back to the car park.

In all, the walk was over the eleven mile advertised and was nearer thirteen miles. The walk was completed around 1600hrs.  The weather was fine for walking with clear views of Winter Hill, Liverpool and Wales.  No complaints from anyone on the day. A very enjoyable walk. Photos can be seen 'here'