This walk was something of a landmark for us as it took us past the official midway point between Liverpool and Leeds at 63.625 miles between each city. The canal took a surprisingly winding route as we skirted low hills, former cotton towns like Riston, Oswaldtwistle and Accrington, crossed the M65 on the oddly named Dunkenhaigh Aqueduct and reached Clayton Le Moors, our destination for the day. The route was full of interest with plenty of wildlife in the form of ducks and Canada geese with their offspring by the score. The canal’s meandering form felt more like a gentle river than an industrial waterway with lovely vistas opening towards Pendle and the Pennine moors. Needless to say, it was not without its industrial archaeology, with sturdy stone bridges, the traces of stone quarries, relatively modest and grand stone mills, the remains of unusual brick coke ovens, canal workshops, stables and warehouses….all in a 7.5mile hike.