Group Walk

Northern England

West Lancashire

12.5ml.

10.00

(12.5 miles. Start 10.00. Parking: To get to the car park follow Three sisters road off Lockett road, Ashton in Makerfield. Go to the end of Three sisters road and turn right just before the race track under a height control barrier. Free car parking is available to the left. There is also a car park straight on a little further, by the three sisters lake but this soon gets full.
Post code WN4 9GD. SD577010. Meet by the lake and play ground at Three sisters.What3words https://w3w.co/same.person.ripe
Route: Setting off from Three sisters nature reserve (a former mining colliery) we follow a woodland trail through to Virador woods and onto Dover lock. Here we pick up the Leeds Liverpool canal tow path to Plank lane swing bridge and admire the pretty views of Pennington wharf marina. Continue along the canal to Pennington flash (also a former mining site and now a large boating lake) and around this area and back to our starting point along a slightly different route. All woodland footpaths in good condition and there's about five miles of 'canal tow path' walking in total.
There are often canal boats selling gifts and goodies along the canal, and there is usually an ice cream van and chip van parked at Pennington flash where we will stop for lunch. Plenty of benches and picnic tables by the lake. Sorry no toilets are open. Bring a packed lunch as usual.
Leader: Andrea Foster andfosy@gmail.com 07703 778519)