Welcome to Jim's free slideshow!

Sign up now to create your own fresh slideshows with music, captions, comments, and receive Jim's updates automatically!

Already a member? Go to login.

Embed in Blog

Story:

Spiral:

Comments

Eth Realy loved that Was it on a Thursday? If so it could be our Zoe On the horse

Chris n Norman You obviously have done your research, Jim. You are a fountain of knowledge. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. Keep it up.

Jim Curwen Brilliant Jim, we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks very much.

Jim A view from Gathurst Bridge, looking towards Appley Bridge.

Jim Golf course entrance, Gathurst Road, next to the Vale Royal.

Jim ..Golf for less than a tenner and next door a carvery meal and a drink for less than a fiver.

Jim A view by the side of the pub looking towards Crooke.

Jim Here is a model of the Yorkshire Horse built by Robert Dalglish - the Yorkshire Horse pulled ninety tons of coal from Winstanley to Crooke. Bye, hope you enjoyed the walk.

Jim At Gathurst Bridge I turn right onto the towpath by the Baby Elephant, this is now an Indian Restaurant and pub, original name the Navigation - the name referred to cutting the canal - hence navvies.

Jim Over the bridge is Crooke..

Jim Where there is vehicle access to the marina...

Jim ..but as public saccess is prohibited I return to the towpath.

Jim A boat reverses back, churning the water...

Jim ..before setting off in the direction of Wigan Pier two miles away.

Jim At the top of the steps we follow an enclosed path.

Jim ..sometimes birds and rabbits scurry across the path ahead of us.

Jim The path literally hugs the side of the M6 motorway, this is the southbound J26 mile sign. Want to know where I am? just look at a road map.

Jim Two years ago I watched 2 men planting 24 inch willow shoots on the right - now they are over 12 feet high.

Jim Why did they plant them

Jim ..We reach Gathurst Road by the Vale Royal pub and the entrance to the new pay and play 9 hole Porters Wood Golf Course. A round of golf for less than a tenner.

Bill F Your usual command of the details ,you missed your vocation Jim .Power to your sussability .

Jim ...coal trucks on it were pulled by a railway engine that pre-dated Stephenson's famous Rocket steam engine, it was called the Yorkshire Horse designed and built for a local colliery owner..

Jim Some narrowboats are moored alongside it...

Jim ..but most are moored off the canal in the main marina dock.

Jim This has only been created in recent years.

Jim Time for home, so I turn and walk it back..

Jim ..now I am back at bridge 47 seen earlier. here I leave the canal and follow a path that takes me past the Heinz factory at Kitt Green. - years ago the path I take was also a colliery railway...

Jim I leave Spring Road in Kitt Green and follow the path that runs by the side of the M6 motorway.

Jim Eventually this takes us out on to Gathurst Road by the side of the Vale Royal pub...

Jim ..I follow the road down the steep Gathurst Brow, to reach the Leeds Liverpool Canal at Gathurst Bridge.

Jim ..this is just under this rail bridge - Years ago, a railway passed under the small arch on the right with coal for shipment on the canal from a colliery at Billinge.

Jim I set off for Crooke half a mile away.

Jim I pass under this large water pipe that carries water to the giant H.J. Heinz factory over the fields left. To get Heinz to locate in Wigan, the council had to guarantee its huge water needs.

Jim Now I come in sight of the Crooke Hall Inn over the canal.

Jim A couple of riders pass over the bridge as I pass under it.

Jim Here comes the barge Ambush..

Jim ...this supplies the fuel and gas needs of the narrowboats on this stretch of the canal.

Jim Bye! Ambush.

Jim Now the start of Crooke Marina.

Hey guest, we noticed you uploaded more than 30 photos ( photos) to this slideshow. Every photo after the 30th will not be displayed but will be safely stored on our server. If you want to display all of them, upgrade your account to premium.