The joys of walking on the Leeds – Liverpool Canal
Our first walk of the U3A Leeds/Liverpool canal group took place on 27th October, almost 246 years to the day after the first sod was cut on 5th Nov 1770.
14 walkers set out from near the appropriately named Ship Inn at Haskayne, led by an energetic Judith Jones at 1030, arriving at Burscough 3hrs later which included a canal-side alfresco packed lunch near Heaton’s Bridge.
Even on this short 7mile section were several reminders of Lancashire’s heritage. Not long after the beginning of the walk we stopped at the “cutting” where the first sod was cut, slightly further on we looked at the evocative modern scuplture of a “Navvy” and the helpful display board about the construction of the canal. Soon we saw the spire of Halsalls’ medieval church. We quickly came to the new marina at Scarisbrick which was close to where, in pre-railway days, Liverpool folk travelled to by barge before catching horse drawn transport to early Southport. When we stopped for lunch we saw a rare WW2 double storey pill box built to defend the area from potential airborne forces. The route then became slightly more built up with a nice terrace of canal workers housing, more canal-side pubs with names like the “Slip Way”, and the Farmer’s Arms
Gradually we walked through the outskirts of Burscough and had a well earned drink( and cake) in the courtyard of the Burscough Wharf before catching the bus back to Ormskirk and then onto Maghull by train
Hi phil I’ve just stumbled across an online article about walking the Leeds Liverpool cannel whilst researching the area.
I grew up in Netherton as a child and often used to walk up to pick conkers with my family and friends by the old Sefton church and from there on in I loved the area and later got married at the church.
Id like to get involved in any future walks
Cheers
Billy