Walk Leader: Stephen Martin

Number on walk: 4

Distance: 20 miles

Weather: Cloudy but dry

Day 8 Wigan to Irlam

 
For our day 8 of the Ringway four members set off on a cloudy but otherwise dry day from Wigan at 8.30am. Initially taking the Leeds Liverpool canal we veered off around the back of the Three Sisters, through Viridor Wood and back onto the canal at Dover Lock and on to Pennington Flash Country Park. Here we took a break at the new cafe and fed a few geese.

After passing around the south side of Leigh, we soon came into Bedford Moss and passed Light Oaks Hall. From here we picked up the Salford Trail through Little Woolden Moss where we were bitten by little blood sucking flies. After the quickest lunch break ever, we headed to Little Woolden Hall and Great Woolden Moss before crossing over the M62. Still following the Salford Trail we headed across Candishead Moss and around to Irlam Train Station were we took our last break. A really nice setting with a museum, cafe and bar.

Then it was a short walk between a few allotment sites back to the car, finishing at 15.50pm As this was a flat walk of 20 miles, we held a good pace over tracks, paths and quiet country lanes. Weather was warm and a little humid reaching 20 degrees. Interesting and enjoyable day.

Highlights include:
– The Leigh Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, including a delightful section running
between two of the largest flashes (lakes formed as a result of mining subsidence)
– Some lesser-known countryside, including the fringes of Three Sisters country park and
the mixed woodland of Viridor Wood
– Lightshaw Meadows, an area of grassland that has been designated as an SSSI (Site of
Special Scientific Interest) thanks to its rich variety of flora and fauna
– Pennington Flash, nationally renowned for its birdlife, and the second-largest body of water
in Greater Manchester.– Footpaths along the valley of the peaceful River Glaze (or
Glazebrook)
– Views of three historic country homes (Light Oaks Hall, Little Woolden Hall and Great
Woolden Hall)
– The 115-hectare Little Woolden Moss nature reserve, now home to plants such as
sphagnum moss and cottongrass, birds of prey and ground-nesting birds, and animals such
as the common lizard and rare bog bush cricket.
– Irlam Station, with its delightful linear park, restored signal box and friendly cafe.