Appley Bridge 6 miles Walkers Anthony, Vic, Jim and Danny

We parked our cars alongside the canal towpath of the Leeds - Liverpool in Appley Bridge.

Just beyond the row of cottages, is a car park and entrance to a small community nature reserve, that is sandwiched between the canal and the River Douglas. We wandered through the reserve before exiting back onto the canal towpath again.

This gentleman preparing to moor his boat, lives on the canal, and has done for the past 11 years. He told us that he was completely self sufficient. He has enough solar panels to provide him with twice his usage of electricity. He has a central heating system to keep him warm during the winter months. He hasn't got a fixed mooring to pay for but just pulls in alongside the towpath.

Here they are, the skipper and first mate (grandson). Grandad is teaching first mate the ropes, so that he will be familiar with the boat for when he inherits it from him. While we were talking a large group of cyclists came along, forcing us to stand back

       A young man who was walking the towpath with his mother took this photo for us.

                                                    We left the canal at bridge No 40.

    The quarry unfortunately was fenced off. From here it was a long climb uphill to Parbold     summit.

On reaching the road after taking a rest on the benches there, we crossed the road, turned left and after a short way crossed a stile into a field. The stile was the first of many, between which, the path was fenced in on either side, making the avoidance of the many nettles most difficult, especially for your writer who was wearing short pants.

                               One of two wild flower meadows along the way.

                                                                   A little used path.

     The must have bridge shot. We arrived back at the Parbold Road, crossed over and entered Fairy Glen with rumbling tummies. We had our dinner sat on logs in a clearing. I apologies but I have lost the rest of my photos. The loss isn't so great as the main waterfall which is normally gushing, today was little more than a trickle. After exiting the Glen it was an easy walk downhill back to the canal.

                                                                      DK