Friday, 3rd May 2013

 

Walk: Johnsons Hillock, Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Ollerton Fold, Withnell Fold, Denham Hill, Whittle Spinney
Start Point: Home Grid Ref: SD 574 226
Distance: 11 miles Ascent: 2,000 feet
Weather: Overcast but mild Time: 4.75 hrs
Comments: A variation of a walk done previously in the opposite direction. In the early part of the walk I visited a number of sections of a branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal - it would be interesting to find out how they all joined up in past times. From the junction I followed the Leeds & Liverpool Canal before branching off to Ollerton Fold then retuning along the canal to Withnell Fold. From here the walk was mainly through fields to Denham Hill and back across the motorway to home.

Scroll down to see photos of the walk

Whittle Millstones which sit next to . . .

 

a disused section of the canal . . .

 

but which is no longer . . .

 

a pleasure to walk beside . . .

 

as the water course narrows . . .

 

and disappears into a tunnel

 

A couple of pheasants are having an argument . . .

 

but decide to go . . .

 

in opposite directions

 

A nearby female . . .

 

heads of for the lucky one

 

Another section of canal . . .

 

emerges from a long tunnel . . .

 

before heading under the motorway . . .

 

beneath the pedestrian tunnel

 

A plan of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal . . .

 

stands next to the end of the Walton Branch

 

Young bulrushes on the edge of the canal . . .

 

plus a bug

 

This swan seems to be . . .

 

making a nest

 

The Walton Summit Branch of the canal . . .

 

which is no longer used

 

The beginning of the Johnsons Hillock section of the canal . . .

 

where you can make your choice of where to go

 

There are 5 locks in this section . . .

 

and this is number 64

 

A couple of miles further along the canal . . .

 

passes an aqueduct

 

Canada Geese take a mid afternoon stroll . . .

 

but these two prefer a swim

 

But one is intent on feeding . . .

 

while the other one keeps watch

 

The house . . .

 

and stables . . .

 

where Lisa used to keep her horse

 

But no horses here now

 

The gorse is finally in flower . . .

 

despite a very straggly bush

 

Denham Quarry . . .

 

with the trig point at the Hough Hill end

 

A twin tree . . .

 

where the roots show the amount of erosion that has taken place

 

A Celtic stone at Whittle Spinney (Woodland Trust Area)

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