July
10:30am Start
8½ miles (13.7km) with 200ft (61m) Total Ascent
Meet at Bilsborrow Village Hall (Sat Nav:PR3 0RP), ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.
Starting from Bilsborrow Village Hall we turn right and follow the A6 to Brock Garage.
After crossing over the footbridge we follow the river Brock along fields and tracks to Brock Bottoms via Matshead, Brock Side and Walmsley Bridge. Leaving Brock Bottoms via the bridge we climb up the lane before crossing over fields to Lower Trotter Hill. From here we walk along the road into Inglewhite village and continue to the riverside via Scotch Green and Lower House. On reaching Brock Side we retrace our steps to Matshead and turning left by the old mill we cross fields to Bilsborrow and the lane taking us back to the village hall.
6 miles (9.7km) with very little climbing.
Meet at St Mary the Virgin Church, Rufford (Sat Nav: L40 1TA), from Tarleton, first left past Rufford Old Hall on the A59, park in minor road on left: 200 metres, ready for the usual start time of 10.30am.
Please note: If you intend coming on this walk, it would be advisable to avoid the Croston and Bretherton area, and to arrive via the A59 Liverpool road. This is due to some of the roads around Croston being closed most of the day for the Ironman Triathlon.
From our start point, at the church, we walk southwest where our walk takes us to Mere Sands Wood. During our walk through the woods we will be able to view the wildlife from many of the hides. In addition, the nearby visitor centre is worth a visit. From the visitor centre we make our way, via country and farm track, to the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Heading south along the towpath we make our way back along the canal, to our starting point and welcome refreshments.