Middlebrook to Regents Road 8 Oct 14

The idea was to try to follow the Middle Brook as much as I could as it makes it's way towards Bolton. Did not turn out that way as the paths and lanes took me nearer the motorway than the brook.

Took the bus (575 from the Interchange) from Bolton towards Horwich and got of at the stop just passed the Beehive Pub on Chorley New Road.

 Walked along the fence to the path which takes you to the start of the Middlebrook.

There are lights all the way down this path but I do not think I would use it in the dark.

 Turned out to be a bit longer than I expected, anyway I arrived and crossed the road and went down the front of Tesco's store.

You can get the 574 or 576 which both go to Middlebrook but the times did not suit.

I walked down the front of Tesco's to a path from the car park, just short of Bolton Wanders Football Stadium, which put me on the main road to the motorway.

Turned right up the road with the Wanders ground on my right.

The stadium is better than the team at the moment, has been for some time.


Passed the roundabout and over the railway line to the sign for the path.

Followed the path to the underpass.

 No stile, which was strange, but a bit of the fence missing.

Very muddy so I walked along the concrete ledge on the left. turned left and then forward towards the farm houses?

Below is looking back at the five bar gate and kissing gate, which I forgot to take a photo of before going through it. The reason I did not go back and take one is that the kissing gate was fitted by a very slim person, I nearly got stuck in it and the fb gate was locked.

 Followed the lane for some time.

Until I came to Lostock Lane. Were I had the choice of  over the road and stile and across the fields, looked muddy, or down the road and join the path farther on.

 Down the road I went.

 and then right into Wingates Lane

A little way up Wingates I took the path on the left over a rickety stile and across the fields.

 Not much sign of a path so followed the fence.

 A sign warned of a bull but I had no problems with these beautiful beasts.

 Path a little clearer.

 and then not again.

One of quite a few friendly horses by the path.

A bit of narrow but I managed without getting caught on the barbed wire.

Left on to the road for a bit.

 I took the straight on path across the fields.

a straight run over more rickety stiles.

and some wet patches, at least there was no mud.

Over the stile onto the track, which I wrongly thought was Chulsey Gate Lane. 

 So I walked down towards the farm where a nice lady told me I had missed my way.

 Backed up and found the way sign half hidden behind a large pile of rubble.

 Back on the right track.

Down to the bottom over two stiles and passed a very friendly horse, had me worried for a while, and on to the real Chulsey Gate Lane.

Over rail bridge to the main road .

 and then very sharp left turn towards a farm

The chickens must have thought I was going to feed them, even the geese were friendly, well they
 didn't attack me.

Passed the fowl and then back up over the railway.

But not before I had to pass this fellow, I was glad he was tethered, anyway he did not try to bother me. For which I was very thankful.  

Down hill from the rail bridge

 and take a right after the gates.

Following the track to the iron gate.

 then left turn down a narrow, and by the look of it, little used path.

what an awful picture but the only one I have that shows how overgrown the path was.

At least it took me to what had been one of the reasons for the walk, Middle Brook.

Over the stream and then back over the railway.

and them over part of Regents Park Golf Club

Straight across the fairway and through the trees brings you out on a track that runs through the course.

and right down to Regents Road.

Turned left up Regents Road to Chorley New Road and the bus back to Bolton.

Not the most pleasant walk that I have taken, with the noise of the motorway evident for most of the time, but, well it got me out and about.