This Thursday we set off along the Bolton arm of the canal heading north towards Bolton, this part of the canal is in water for a short distance, from Nob End to the basin at Little Lever.
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Little Lever basin
The weather on this excursion was fine but due to a lot of wet weather over the previous couple of days the tow-path was very wet and muddy. Along the first part of the canal the towpath is cobbled, after a short distance the cobbles disappear and the path becomes a dirt path with expanses of mud. Soon we came to the basin at Little Lever which is the end of the canal which is still in water, now we drop down the steep banking taking us down to Hall Lane, across the road we follow the path of the river Croal and after a short journey climb steeply back up to the level of the canal, this part of the canal has been filled in. Due to all the heavy rain and strong winds the footpath was muddy and covered with fallen leaves in places, with some stretches which where really muddy and required careful navigation.
The canal ends at Radcliffe Road, Bolton opposite the Farmers Arms pub; we turn left up the hill and towards Darcy Lever under the disused railway bridge. Leaving the road we head towards St Stephen & All Martyrs church which is hidden from the main road. Following a trail that goes around the rear of the church we went along and eventually came back further down Radcliffe Road. From here we went along Bromich St towards Bolton, along River St where they are building a Travel Lodge along side some old factories.
Further along River St we went down a short path which lead us out at the bottom of Churchgate, here we came across the River Croal which is culverted through Bolton and flows under St Peters Way. Down a small unused path over the river and along the other side we came out at Water St and on up Brown St following the river until it disappeared underneath the Market Place. From here we decided to head to Queens Park. Going along Bark St we came to east side of the park, round the back of the BLGC we followed the path up to the top of Queens Park looking over the centre of Bolton.
The light faded rather quickly so we only managed a quick cycle around the park but came across a couple of statues one of Benjamin Disraeli 1804 –1881 and another of James Dorrian M.D.
The latter was a Bolton doctor it was decided that his self-sacrificing devotion and unfailing charity” be recognised by a statue. This is that statue.
Leaving the park heading home we crossed the recently renovated Dobson’s Bridge and then left the park and onto Spa Road through the town centre and back along River Street heading home.
Hopefully we still may get at least one more Thursday night excursion weather dependent due to the nights drawing in.
