This week we heard of a cycle path that follows the railway line up to Horwich that starts near Duabhill in Bolton. So we decide to set off to see if we can find it. We set off following the route of last week along the canal towards Bolton again following it to its end at the Farmers Arms pub. Along Radcliffe Road up the steep hill and continuing passed Fred Dibnah’s old house, along Castle St and joining Bury New Rd heading for the town centre. Through the centre we head out pass Queens Park and on up Ellesmere St eventually finding the beginning of the path.
- Lever Bridge Bolton. CC image courtesy of peter.smith 1059
Following the path north it soon becomes a smooth tarmac track that runs parallel to the railway line from Bolton to Preston. After about half a mile it opens up on the left side and you wouldn’t think you just outside the town centre.
There is a small brook on the left where we find a few people fishing. Going onwards we pass under a stone bridge at Deane Church Clough. Shortly we go under the bridge under Ladybridge Lane, and on the left is a golf course , traveling through glorious countryside that we didn’t even realize was even here, we stop here to enjoy the view.
The path is nice and smooth and mainly very flat, so we make good progress along and go under the bridge at Beaumont Road, along the back of a housing estate we arrive at Lostock Railway station and stop to look around the now closed and shuttered Lostock Arms pub
Up onto Rumworth Rd we go over the railway and then left onto Regent Rd around the bend we rejoin the cycle path and find ourselves right in the middle of Bolton Municipal golf course.
The path continues up a slight incline through the golf course, after a couple of hundred yards we see football pitches on our right hand side which turn out to be Bolton Wanders FC training ground, here we come to a junction turning right we come across a sign which takes us up Ox Hey Lane and after approximately 300m we turn left and arrive at the junction with Lostock Lane with a clear view of the Reebok stadium.
Heading back the way we came we spot a heron fishing in the brook. Now its back along the same route home in need of a brew.
