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Exploring the old Lancaster Canal in Whittle-le-Woods

This self-guided circular heritage walk covers the old southern section of the Lancaster Canal that later became the Walton Summit branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, including two tunnels, an aqueduct and basin at Whittle.

Walk

Location

Wheelton, Lancashire

Distance

4 miles (6km)

Ease

Moderate – torch recommended for subway and tunnel

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The walk starts at the very picturesque flight of seven locks built in 1814/15 by the Lancaster Canal Company, which takes you down to the junction of the two canals at Johnsons Hillock bottom lock.

Boats can no longer go on the old canal to where it ends at Town Lane, but the walk route takes us round along tracks and paths to trace the now filled in canal and the Lostock Aqueduct/Embankment that took the canal over the River Lostock.

Two tunnels can then be viewed, which were built as one tunnel back in 1801-03, but then partly opened out in 1837 due to collapses.

We take a lunch stop at the site of the old Duke of York Canal Basin next to one of the last surviving Grade II listed canal bridges on this section, Moss Bridge on Chorley Old Road. Quite a good length of canal bed survives in a dry infilled state and, as our route leaves the old canal, a restored Lime kiln is visited before crossing over the Motorway. The last part of the walk connects back to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal through Lower Copthurst and back to the Top Lock.

Walk details

Surface

Mainly towpaths, paths/tracks. Can be muddy in parts.

Accessibility

Some steps and slopes to negotiate

Parking

Car Park opposite the Top Lock pub (PR6 8LT), or nearby street parking on Kenyon Lane if car park full

Exploring the old Lancaster Canal in Whittle-le-Woods Map

Find directions to the Activity

Begin the Walk

1. Johnsons Hillock Locks

From the top lock pub, cross the canal bridge, take the towpath steps to head down the flight of 7 locks until you reach the junction with the old Lancaster Canal south section

2. Junction Canal Bridge

Cross the junction canal bridge and loop back under it to take the old towpath heading to Town lane along the last in watered length of the old Lancaster Canal built c.1800

3. Town Lane

Where the canal now ends is the site of an old coal wharf. The footpath joins Town Lane, and you take a right after crossing the road at what was navigation bridge. Take a footpath down a track 100 metres along Town lane, behind stone-built cottages.

4. Old canal channel

Just before entering a farm, take a stile on the left, into a field, followed by another stile 20 metres away alongside the field boundary that takes you along an embankment, with the old canal channel now infilled, below you on the left. Follow the footpath down the valley side and through a Motorway subway (torch recommended)

5. River Lostock

As you exit the subway, the aqueduct and embankment that took the Lancaster Canal over the river Lostock is now in front of you. Go through the tunnel footpath taking the river and at its exit portal, take the footpath to the left to loop back on yourself, and over the tunnel portal. The footpath climbs steadily through woodland and past cottages.

6. Whittle Tunnel

Before joining the road (Hill Top lane), the track takes you over the canal tunnel, built between 1801-03 as one tunnel and then opened out in its centre after a collapse in 1837. Take a left when you join the road and 200m along take a set of wooden steps down to the canal cutting, partly restored.

7. Moss Bridge

The cutting takes you to Moss Bridge, but look back the other way to the tunnel portal of the west tunnel, clearance work having taken place to make it viewable from the towpath. A 200-year commemoration plaque on the bridge is worth a read before going under the bridge and into the landscaped area that was the Duke of York Basin up until 1968.

8. Duke of York Basin

The basin has a seating area and recovered mill stones that were once quarried in the area. Take the footpath at the far side of the basin area, northwards at the back of houses that once served as coal yards. On joining Chorley Old Road, cross and turn left, walk down to the Dog Inn pub.

9. Dog Inn Pub to Lime Kiln

Take the path down the left side of the pub, up steps and across the old canal bed onto a tarmac footpath, turning left and following this path for 150m. Continue for another 20m after crossing an estate road, through a metal gate and take the first footpath right which leads you to a restored stone-built Lime Kiln straight away.

10. Lime Kiln and Birchin Lane

From the Lime Kiln, continue on the footpath through woodland for 250m to join Birchin Lane and turn left to go uphill and left again to cross the Motorway on a high bridge..

11. Birchin Lane to Lower Copthurst

Once you have crossed on the motorway bridge, take the first right which is the continuation of Birchin Lane, heading downhill on this country lane to Lower Copthurst and then a short, steep climb back up to the Top Lock and the start point.

Walk Complete

Explore Nearby

Autumnal canal bridge surrounded by trees

Waterway

Lancaster Canal

Part Navigable; Part Restoration

Waterway

Leeds & Liverpool Canal

Navigable

Lune Aqueduct over the Lancaster Canal

Branch

IWA Lancashire & Cumbria Branch

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