I just wanted to let you know that I walked the Rufford Branch from Burscough to Tarleton Lock and then on to Hesketh Bank yesterday. I was worried about the state of the towpath so wore wellington boots but at this time of year there was no need. Basically, I wanted to report that I succeeded in walking the whole thing without using roads. Things may have changed since you walked it, but where the towpath ends at the bridge carrying the A59 over the canal before Tarleton, you exit over a stile, cross the canal on the bridge staying on the same side and there is a narrow opening leading onto some steps just on the other side. You go down these steps, cross under the bridge by the canal and for about one and a half miles there is a footpath running close to the canal that could not exactly be described as towpath, passing through trees in places. You then come onto a gravel road right beside the canal with some workshops on it. About another mile north, there is a place where a boatyard has closed if the canal-side road. You have to by pass this using a little Lane marked with unfriendly signs telling you it's private property and to stay out. Somebody was there walking a dog and I asked about the signs and she told me to ignore them. You soon get back by the canal and reach Tarleton Lock and the junction with the River Douglas. There is now a footpath from there to Hesketh Bank called the Henry Alty Way, and you move seamlessly onto this, and it's a pretty decent footpath that takes you close to the banks of the Douglas to Hesketh Bank. So, based on my experience yesterday, I would say you can now comfortably walk the 10 miles or so from Burscough to Hesketh Bank using solely the towpath and footpaths.