Brindle Route

A 5 mile walk, extended to 5 and a half if you take in the Hough Hill Trig Point and Denham Quarry, Definitely worth it in my opinion.

Start in the village of Brindle, roadside Parking available on Water St. which is accessed off Sandy lane between The Cavendish Arms and The Church. Postcode PR6 8NG

1. From the church walk back along Sandy Lane 200ys and then take a footpath on the right.(signposted). This crosses a large field over a stile to reach a fence, which it then follows on the left to arrive at Marsh Lane just before Marsh Lane Farm.

Turn right onto Marsh lane and walk along it for a little under 400 yards and then turn left onto a concrete farm track just before Lower Hilton's. Follow the track for a few hundred yards to reach the farm At the farm keep ahead through the yard to a stile. The right of way crosses the next field, then after a stile drops through woodland to reach a footbridge.

On crossing the bridge the footpath divides a slight climb leads to a driveway, go straight across to reach the leeds-Liverpool canal. Once on the towpath turn right and soon after cross Bridge No. 88 and enter Withnell Fold Hamlet.

2. Follow the lane up through the hamlet. About 300yds from the canal look for a wide black solid track on the right, just before the road bends to the left, leading towards the village recreation ground. After passing an attractive reservoir on your left the track continues, with the raised cricket club also on the left. Through a metal gate and along a track crossing a field to another metal gate the track bends to the left to reach Chorley Rd (A674) at Higher Wheelton. Turn right. Keep on it for 750yds. (about 900 steps)

3. About 10 minutes walk along the A674 passing the Golden Lion and look for a signposted wide solid stoned track leading down to Lower Simpson Fold. Turn right onto the firm track and commence a descent back to the canal. As the track bends left towards Lower Simpson Fold Continue forward over a stile and follow the tack as it winds down to reach the Canal. Cross the canal and on the right, drop down the embankment to a wooden footbridge visible over a brook. Once across it, keep ahead as the path begins to rise up the hillside. Keep ahead after a stile next to a metal gate to arrive at a stile on the corner of the next field. Cross this and continue with the fence on your right which bends left to become a hedge You will see a stile into the next field.. Do not cross this stile - instead turn left and, with the hedge on your right, keep going until you reach a broad farm track. This leads up to Top o'th Lane on the skyline in front of you

4. Cross Denham Lane onto a track taking you towards Holt Lane, stopping as you pass through a wooden stile to take note of The Plaque on the stone wall indicating that this was the position of the Old Brindle Workhouse. Follow the broad tack up and it opens out with a panoramic view out to the Fylde Coast. The track bends left and descends to Holt Lane. As you reach a metal gate just before the Lane you have an option to extend this walk by taking the stile on your left and climbing the short distance to the Trig point on Hough Hill above Denham Quarry. Alternatively continue down to the Lane, turn right and continue from Point 5. Climbing the stepped path, reach the Trig point for good views all around. Bear right and follow a lovely path across the top of the quarry. Worth noting if you have a dog with you, get it on a lead as the drop off the path to the right is about a 100 feet, similarly keep young children close by. Follow the path around the top edge of the quarry until it descends, with a tiny scramble back down to Holt Lane. Turn right and walk back to meet the point that you headed up to the trig as Holt Lane bends to the left.

5. Turn right. (Left if you've been up to the Trig point) Opposite Holt Lane Farm turn right and follow the track past a radio mast. Pass through the yard of Holt Farm, (this was a very muddy part of the route on my visit in February and the track leading away from Holt farm was also a bit of a mess) then bear right. The footpath leads back towards Denham Lane. After a stile in a hedge as the track enters a field, turn left. With a field boundary initially on your left, keep ahead past a large pond and on a not so obvious path, keep the fence to your left and over another stile The village will quickly come into view. The path will bring you out close by the primary school. Turn left on to Water Street and back to your car.