Birchwood to Culcheth Link Walk - 9 miles

Culcheth Linear Park
Click here for a map of this trail 

With your back to the Ranger Cabin turn left under the bridge following the bottom path leaving the park by the steps on the right. Follow the footpath arrows diagonally across the first field then to the right hand edge of the next passing a long pond to join Warrington road. Turn right along the pavement cross Glaziers Lane and after 200m cross Warrington Road and turn left through Bates farm past the duck pond. Continue along the track following the bend rightwards past a stack of old telegraph polls then by a hedge ignoring a footpath to the left. Carry straight on between two fences over the capped tip and along the track to Silver Lane. Turn left following Silver Lane to the motorway junction. Cross the tip access road and ignore the path arrows to the left taking extreme care while crossing the two slip roads to join School Lane. Turn left then fork right after 100m through a barrier, this track skirts Pestfurlong Hill but a trip to the top for good views is worthwhile. Continue along the track through a pinch gap ignoring the path on the left at the upper path 'T' junction. Turn left, after the pinch gap keep right and continue straight on at the cross paths following the obvious main track ignoring paths from the left and right eventually down steps to cross Mossgate Road. At the top of the steps on the far side turn left to Birchwood Forest Park Ranger Centre.
 
With your back to the Ranger Centre main entrance turn left following signs to the skateboard park passing signs for Risley Moss to which an excursion can be made. Continue along the path keeping left at the fork and ignoring the path under the subway past the kick about pitch and skateboard park. Turn left at the T- junction along the path parallel to Ordnance Ave passing a pond on the right and ignoring the subway to the right keep right and onto the bridge. After the bridge a detour can be taken into the walled garden (keep left). Return to the original path through the same gate and continue leftwards to cross paths. Turn right through the underpass crossing the road. Turn right following the path over the suspension bridge then down steps to join Delenty Drive. Walk along the pavement passing an army pillbox and Heathfield House to the road junction. Cross the road and turn right following the pavement straight on past Genesis and straight on again at the road corner to rejoin the pavement. Follow the road around the right bend to eventually arrive at a roundabout, cross this directly following signs to Leigh along Warrington Road. Opposite the Noggin Pub turn left following Cross Lane South then path to a footbridge and over the motorway. Turn left along the road to Hay Farm turning right after a red brick building. Follow the obvious farm track and later field path to the edge of the field passing a sign for Glaziers Lane in a tree. Keep to the right field boundary between two fences along the obvious path over a style. Walk by the field edge passing a pond and ignoring joining paths from the left then right then around a corner and eventually to Glaziers Lane. Turn left then right along Wigshaw Lane after 100m just before the bridge top cross the road and enter Culcheth Linear Park through a pinch gap. Take either path to the car park and Ranger Cabin.

Last updated 17/03/2010 10:02:21

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