Lancashire Way Day 3

Wigan to Adlington (twice) 
Distance 23.5 miles
Ascent 400m
Weather warm and sunny

Dog related things: walkers, barking, poo, poo bags and hair of.
Canal side hippy camp, ducklings, dippers, tufty ducks, man carrying a brick, stocks. 
Bells: optional 


We left Wigan along the canal towards Haigh Hall, quite a few other people were out for a walk and there were lots of fishermen along the banks.


The lane into Haigh Hall Estate was filled with a steady stream of people all headed towards the park, and people everywhere inside it. The queue for posh ice creams was worth it. Leaving the park we rejoined the canal, and were treated to a rousing chorus of Mary's  Boy Child by Boney M that well known Easter song.


We dropped down on to a disused railway for a short time which was shader but the air was not as fresh so we went back to the towpath.




At Aberdeen Bridge we left the official route and followed a footpath though some woods, with wild garlic and bluebell carpet and also mud, which is something we've not had a lot of.
We reached the hotel at about 2.30pm, dropping our bags and stopping for a coffee and easter eggs and also wash feet and put on clean socks. 




After our break we were back out to finish off the days. We went off route again to walk up the brook-side footpath rather than busy road under the M61 and off route again on to Heapey Fold Lane towards Anglezarke Reservoir. There were lots of sheep and lambs, a blackcap and we did not go to Mouldy House Farm. 




The path goes around the top of the reservoir, through a cricket pitch and along a rocky track through heathland then through grassy sheep fields to the road and along the causeway which was a popular socialising spot on a warm evening.


A footpath along the waters edge and through bluebell woods took us back to the motorway, where we crossed with a police presence.


A massive new bridge took us over the railway line, a fast train coming 2 minutes too late. Them we were at the canal again and retraced our steps to the Yarrow Bridge Hotel. A quieter night tonight, just the chickens in the farm next door.