Appley Bridge and Ashurst Beacon

Jim Grindle

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West Lancashire means the Lancashire Plain to most of us, but there is a series of hills, outliers of the Pennines, which lie along its edge. Harrock Hill, Parbold Hill and the height topped by Ashurst's Beacon are among them. There is a good network of footpaths and excellent views from their summits over the surrounding flat land and the Irish Sea. This walk is a steady climb from the River Douglas to the Beacon, a descent on good tracks and a return along the Leeds - Liverpool Canal to the station at Appley Bridge.

England - North England - Lancashire - Countryside

Features

Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Flowers, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Pub, Public Transport, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland

9/4/2013 - Jim Grindle

Thanks for the up-dates. Robert. I have used them to amend the walk directions. Jim Grindle.

7/30/2013 - Robert Hughes

A really enjoyable walk which at the end of July was just damp in places - not even muddy and definitely not boggy. The wooded sections provided welcome respite from the sun and variety on the walk of gentle gradients both up and down (except the few steep steps at WM 20. Between WM 9 and 10/11 there are several paths off to the right which should be ignored. Keep going straight on when the path becomes a track. The correct path is on the apex of the left hand bend in the track. At WM 17 the bench is no more - but if you walk in the direction of the Winter Hill transmitter (on the viewfinder if cloudy) you'll be on the right track. The signpost mentioned in the notes for WM20 and in the Keith's comment is now on the left side of the lane. Also the gates and stiles in the notes of WM21 and 22 have also gone - but the track is very clear. Another great walk Jim.

9/21/2011 - keith evans

Another well defined walk from Jim Grindle with excellent instructions. The first few miles of the walk is through dense trees, but on reaching the beacon the view is well worth the quite boggy trek. The white house at w/p 20 is no more but the double fingerpost points left to continue on the correct farm track. W/p 26.After reaching and walking down the r/h track be careful at the first gate. On the far side is a cattle grid covering the width of the track and when we did this walk the grid was flooded and barely visible.