Midge Walkers

Walk  No. 111

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Tram Rd Walk


Following the success of our last walk, it was encouraging that 14 adults, 1 child and Molly the dog assembled on the Capitol Centre car park at Walton le Dale. We were pleased to welcome two new participants, and set off at 1.45 p.m. by passing behind the Nuffield Health Gym (formerly Virgin) to join Winery Lane which took us over a bridge and the River Darwen, to turn left towards Walton Green and subsequently under the main London Way.


Passing through a kissing gate to the right and following a path skirting a field we soon emerged on to Hennel Lane and took a route up the cul-de-sac section, to enter a wooded area (Dog Kennel Wood) which ran along the side of the A6. Due to recent rather damp weather, the route through the woods proved to be somewhat boggy and rather spoilt the image of those who had come with nice clean boots.


Emerging through another kissing gate, we found ourselves at the roundabout at Brownedge Rd, where we crossed the main Rd and entered what was sign posted as “Preston Junction Nature Reserve”. Continuing along a path, which at one time had been the route of a rail line we emerged on to Todd Lane North at a position which had been the site of a former railway station.


Crossing the road took us on to another pathway which had been covered on a previous walk passing the now derelict site of the old gas works and on to the junction with the Old Tram Rd at a position adjacent to the Vernon’s site on Factory Lane where we stopped for a coffee break.


Suitably revived, we continued along Tram Rd towards the river and then took the path along the river bank to the right and ultimately returned to our starting point.


This time we had availed ourselves of a means of measuring our route, with a result of 4.8 miles. The pre-walk description was remarkably accurate, promising “easy, basically flat, mainly good under foot, a tad wet passing through a wooded area, no stiles, tricky bridges or fence climbing and nothing to distract us from enjoying a good walk.”


How true all of that turned out to be !!!