Spent my day off walking the towpath of the Rufford Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Next best thing to narrowboating itself. It is a fascinating route in a busy triangle bounded on water by the Leeds-Liverpool canal (east-west), the River Douglas and the Rufford Branch (north to join the Douglas at Tarleton), on road by the A59 (Liverpool-Preston helter-skelter), the A5209 (equally overheated Merseyside commuter road) and the B5246 (windy, misty Parbold to Rufford moor road), and by two main railway lines: the Liverpool - Preston and the Wigan - Southport lines. Industrial history past and present, farmers using hosepipes in celebratory style, seven locks in under four miles, views of famed Lancashire Hills (Ashurst, Parbold, Winter), a swing bridge and ancient real-ale pubs.....
john davies
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