Thursday 21st November

Photo Tour

Sign post at Rufford Branch

Sign post at Rufford Branch

Old cottages at the Rufford Branch top lock

Old cottages at the Rufford Branch top lock

An old dry dock at the Rufford Branch junction

An old dry dock at the Rufford Branch junction

View from towpath bridge towards Rufford Branch

View from towpath bridge towards Rufford Branch

View from towpath bridge towards Rufford Branch

View from towpath bridge towards Rufford Branch

View from towpath bridge towards Rufford Branch

View from towpath bridge towards Rufford Branch

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Junction bridge (Bridge 1)

Junction bridge (Bridge 1)

Old cottages at the Rufford Branch top lock

Old cottages at the Rufford Branch top lock

Lathom locks (No.1)

Lathom locks (No.1)

A narrow boat in Lathom locks

A narrow boat in Lathom locks

Lathom locks (No.1)

Lathom locks (No.1)

Lathom locks (No.2)

Lathom locks (No.2)

View from Lathom locks (No.2)

View from Lathom locks (No.2)

2 Comments
Runnel Brow bridge (Bridge 2)

Runnel Brow bridge (Bridge 2)

Runnel Brow bridge (Bridge 2)

Runnel Brow bridge (Bridge 2)

Runnel Brow locks (No.3)

Runnel Brow locks (No.3)

View from Runnel Brow locks

View from Runnel Brow locks

Railway bridge (Bridge 2A)

Railway bridge (Bridge 2A)

Wide grass towpath beyond the railway bridge

Wide grass towpath beyond the railway bridge

Moss lock (No.4)

Moss lock (No.4)

Overgrown canal towpath

Overgrown canal towpath

Walking at water level

Walking at water level

Old and weathered mileage marker

Old and weathered mileage marker

German's lock (No.5)

German's lock (No.5)

German's bridge (Bridge 3)

German's bridge (Bridge 3)

Narrow boat heading towards Rufford

Narrow boat heading towards Rufford

Open countryside and superb views all around

Open countryside and superb views all around

Chicken lock (No.6)

Chicken lock (No.6)

1 Comment
Baldwins bridge (Bridge 4)

Baldwins bridge (Bridge 4)

View from Baldwins bridge (Bridge 4)

View from Baldwins bridge (Bridge 4)

Approching Prescott bridge (Bridge 5)

Approching Prescott bridge (Bridge 5)

Prescott bridge (Bridge 5)

Prescott bridge (Bridge 5)

Grass towpath and plenty of plant life

Grass towpath and plenty of plant life

Canal not visible because of plant life

Canal not visible because of plant life

1 Comment
Approaching old railway bridge with crossing for farmer

Approaching old railway bridge with crossing for farmer

Old railway bridge with crossing for farmer

Old railway bridge with crossing for farmer

The A59 alongside the canal

The A59 alongside the canal

Marsh Meadow swing bridge (Bridge 6)

Marsh Meadow swing bridge (Bridge 6)

Another wide part of the grass towpath

Another wide part of the grass towpath

Approaching Rufford lock (No.7)

Approaching Rufford lock (No.7)

Rufford lock (No.7) and the marina

Rufford lock (No.7) and the marina

The marina at Rufford

The marina at Rufford

The marina at Rufford

The marina at Rufford

The marina at Rufford

The marina at Rufford

The marina at Rufford

The marina at Rufford

We stopped for lunch at the marina

We stopped for lunch at the marina

Chapel bridge (Bridge 7)

Chapel bridge (Bridge 7)

Nice house with great views at Rufford

Nice house with great views at Rufford

The canal close to Rufford Old Hall

The canal close to Rufford Old Hall

My lad clowning about for some strange reason

My lad clowning about for some strange reason

Possibly site of old swing bridge

Possibly site of old swing bridge

Town Meadow swing bridge (Bridge 8)

Town Meadow swing bridge (Bridge 8)

Spark bridge (Bridge 8A)

Spark bridge (Bridge 8A)

Total silence, not a soul in sight

Total silence, not a soul in sight

Fearn's swing bridge (Bridge 9)

Fearn's swing bridge (Bridge 9)

'Oh I've got a brand new combine harvester...'

'Oh I've got a brand new combine harvester...'

One of many butterflies in the area

One of many butterflies in the area

A huge mushroom

A huge mushroom

Sign of life, a couple of narrow boats

Sign of life, a couple of narrow boats

Approaching Strand bridge where we had to leave

Approaching Strand bridge where we had to leave

Old and weathered mile marker barely visible

Old and weathered mile marker barely visible

Approaching Strand bridge (Bridge 10)

Approaching Strand bridge (Bridge 10)

Strand bridge (Bridge 10)

Strand bridge (Bridge 10)

Strand bridge (Bridge 10)

Strand bridge (Bridge 10)

View from Strand bridge, original course of River Douglas

View from Strand bridge, original course of River Douglas

Off the canal, last 2 miles by road

Off the canal, last 2 miles by road

Beautiful houses in Sollom

Beautiful houses in Sollom

Beautiful houses in Sollom

Beautiful houses in Sollom

Hurst's of Wigan Coaches in a field, Sollom

Hurst's of Wigan Coaches in a field, Sollom

Old canal building at Bank bridge (Bridge 11)

Old canal building at Bank bridge (Bridge 11)

Looking towards Burscough from Bank bridge

Looking towards Burscough from Bank bridge

Looking towards Tarleton from Bank bridge

Looking towards Tarleton from Bank bridge

Similar bridge next to canal over River Douglas

Similar bridge next to canal over River Douglas

The River Douglas close to the canal

The River Douglas close to the canal

A quick drink at the Lord Lilford, Tarleton

A quick drink at the Lord Lilford, Tarleton

An old red Ribble bus

An old red Ribble bus

Down another long road in search for the end of the canal

Down another long road in search for the end of the canal

Not far now, just down the side of that house

Not far now, just down the side of that house

Just a little too far! The River Douglas

Just a little too far! The River Douglas

It wasn't an easy place to find, a narrow path behind some houses

It wasn't an easy place to find, a narrow path behind some houses

Still going, through some trees

Still going, through some trees

The River Douglas, much wider than at Wigan

The River Douglas, much wider than at Wigan

The River Douglas, much wider than at Wigan

The River Douglas, much wider than at Wigan

River lock, now Tarleton lock (No.8)

River lock, now Tarleton lock (No.8)

River lock, now Tarleton lock (No.8)

River lock, now Tarleton lock (No.8)

Where the canal joins the River Douglas

Where the canal joins the River Douglas

British Waterways sign at the river lock

British Waterways sign at the river lock

Thomas was filming me, I had no idea!

Thomas was filming me, I had no idea!

Looking back towards Burscough

Looking back towards Burscough

River lock, now Tarleton lock (No.8)

River lock, now Tarleton lock (No.8)

Narrow boats moored at the end of the Rufford Branch

Narrow boats moored at the end of the Rufford Branch

Having a look around and a breather

Having a look around and a breather

Another drink at the Cock & Bottle, Tarleton

Another drink at the Cock & Bottle, Tarleton