How to get there - From Junction 8 of the M61 head west then turn north on the A6 (Preston Road). At the centre of Whittle-le-Woods turn right into Shaw Brow, right again into Chorley Old Road and then right again into Town Lane. Continue until you go under the M61 then, as the road bears left, take the track on the right to a parking area next to a the remains of the Walton Summit Branch of the Lancaster Canal.
For those with SatNav the postcode is PR6 8AL.
If you want to make this a one way trip you will need to get a car to Adlington (postcode PR7 4HZ)
Get a map with driving directions to start or end (enter the postcode of your starting point at A)
Suggested Launch Site - Launch over the bank.
General
Description - I've got to confess that I haven't done this trip. I was looking for somewhere on this part of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and used Google earth to research it. If you have any comments based on actual experience of this part of the canal please add them.
The trip is about 5 miles through open countryside and the suburbs of Chorley. You can do it as a one way trip if you can arrange to shuttle a car or get picked up from the end at the Bridge Inn, Adlington or you can simply turn around when you've gone far enough and return to the start. The trip starts on the remains of the Walton Summit Branch of the Lancaster Canal before joining the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at the bottom of the Johnson's Hill Locks and then travels south with no locks or portages.
Comments on this trip
Mike 18 May 2022
This short leg of canal known locally as the Navigation has become overgrown and must now be considered unusable. Next point of access downstream is Moss Lane bridge.
Mike Seddon 28 Sep 2010
I agree with the fishermen comment. Met a particularly disagreable chap 201010 took longer to argue as to if I had a right to use that stretch than it would if he had simply moved his maggot drowning equipment. he had picked an area 8ft wide so no going around the misery. i'm not intimidated easily but the young and ladies beware .
Liam 21 Jul 2009
Something to note, Walton Summit section is about 200m long, it is an area canal barges are not permitted. At certain times there can be a large number of people fishing. I have been lucky so far, but I think I would portage beyond them if they were there.
