White Bear Way

WHITE BEAR WAY – 21 MILE ROUTE

Turn left out of the ScoutHut drive, down Grove Crescent 100m to the path withconcrete bollard, turn left and go between the houses, 100m to main road (Railway Road). Take a right and go over therailway bridge and down to the mini roundabout at the A6. Take a right turn, onto Westhoughton Rd (A6), then immediately cross road with care using the zebra crossing, take a left, cross road with care and onto the next mini roundabout. Take a right into Park Road and over the bridge, take the path down to the canal towpath, and turn immediately right under bridge (No.69).Follow the canal to bridge No.68, go under this then 80 metres after bridge No 68, at yellow footpath sign turn right and go down the steps. At the bottom turn left under the bridge and then turn right over the next bridge across the stream. Follow stony path up the zig zag and continue on main path (disused railway) go between sleeper gate posts and then 3 track crossings. At fourth track crossing (second set of gates) in 1.1km (595 115) (look for overhead electric cables and a sign on the right saying 'Weak Bridge'). Turn left over cattle grid and up metalled track to Aberdeen Farm. At the `T` junction go right along the track to the next `T` junction. Turn left and follow this road to the main road, CP 1 (607 107), pub car park.

Turn left and cross road, uphill and in 100m at Public Footpath (FP) sign opposite Hawthorn Cottage (Pennington Fold Farm) turn right. Pass to the right side of buildings and onto gate. Go through gate and head across field (150) to left of large gap in hedge then half left (100) to stile, over and continue in the same direction with hedge on your left to next stile in corner, over and right and follow path 110 to next stile, over and then diagonally left, towards houses (96), over stile at fence then carry on to stile in left hand corner and track. Turn left and in 200m just before houses turn right through gate and over playing field (at rear of houses) to Blackrod Community Centre (3.7 miles) (617 106). Through car park to road where left then right to main road. Cross and turn right, in approx. 100m turn left down Castlecroft Avenue. At T junction, cross road and go down the tarmac footpath, turn right and follow cobble path down to A6. Cross with care and turn right along A6 to traffic lights. Turn left and head towards Horwich, go under motorway-bridge. Continue onwards and begin to walk up Crown Lane (long hill). At house number 167, turn left down Edward St. Continue on to footpath, and through iron rails and down the path. At stone gate post take the first left fork following a narrow path. Continue on path for about 300m and look for 2 similar stone gate posts in trees to left of path. Continue 20m to the small car park area of Greenfields Angling Club where there is a twin tracked road leading off to the left. Take this twin track to concrete bridge, cross bridge to tarmac road and turn right to main road(631 121). Cross the road (with care)and turn right, turn left up next road (Dryfield Lane) and follow for 500m. crossing bridge, in 50m turn left onto public bridleway, at three stone posts bear half right and take path (faint at first) through trees to car parkCP 2 (635 128).

Take path bearing 270° through trees and continue, crossing diagonal track to main track. Turn left on main track to the Castle(6285 1305). Leave castle to right hand side (14) and in 100m at seat turn right and then in a further 40m turn left and follow track to road. Cross and continue up track to junction of tracks(634 136), turn right and follow track to rear of school (900m). At junction of tracks take second on your left up hill passing Roynton Road substation on your left. Through the gate and in 25m through kissing gate on the right and follow path to gate on your right. Over stile and down the steps, cross stream and up to track. Turn left and follow track past Ormston Farm to junction of tracks (Wilderswood) (648126). Turn left up track initially with stream on your left. Continue up track with wall on your right, when track turns right through gate posts continue ahead on narrow path. At junction with track turn right up to gate. CP3 Pike Road (650128).

Turn left along Pike Road and continue for 1km then take track on right and climb to Rivington Pike Beacon (643108) Pass to left of beacon tower and descend steps (take extreme care lots of loose stones) continue ahead to gate. Turn right and continue on track to Pigeon tower(640143)and take right fork and follow track to road, turn right to (Horden Stoops) CP4.(655 158)

Take footpath heading north through stile and in 130 metres take diagonal path to left, continue to junction with main path, turn left and follow downhill to Higher Hempshaws (ruin). Turn right on track and follow to Lead Mines Clough (2k). After second kissing gate descend hill and at junction of paths (630164) turn right and cross concrete bridge. Take gate on right and immediately left up path/steps to memorial. Bear slightly left and go through gate and cross field (280) to stile by gate, turn right and follow track to Jepsons Gate (14.3 miles).CP5 (6235 1696)

Continue ahead on road and just after road swings sharp right take footpath on your left, opposite Manor House (6205 1720). Cross field and follow footpath downhill, ignore path and footbridge on left but continue ahead keeping reservoir on your left to junction of tracks turn right and follow around Anglezarke Reservoir to road. Turn left and follow road past Watermans Cottage and when road swings sharp right take footpath on your left (6140 1805) and go uphill (steps) and over stile. Take the concessionary path up hill (keep close to fence on your right) to stile in top right hand corner, over and to track. Turn left and in 80 metres at concessionary bridleway sign bear right up track. Follow track past small disused quarry to junction of tracks (sign post next to three white rocks opposite) and bear left to stile in fence (do not go to gate) . Over stile and uphill keeping wall on your right to pile of stones(607180) (cairn?).

From cairn, Healy Nab, bear right (330°) and follow wall down hill (keeping wall on your right) to steps and track. Turn sharp left and follow path, ignore stile on the left and continue over 2 stiles.Follow field track to White House Farm, over an ancient stile and descend farm track 85m to stile at the corner of the wall on the left. Over stile, follow the wall line to way marker. Turn half right and cross field diagonally to stile inthe far corner.Over stile and through gully and trees and continue to Johnson's Farm. Over stile, keep left and through gate around property to metalled driveway. Follow driveway to second turn on the right. Follow path around Bibby's Farm Scout campsite, path swings left and drops downhill to motorway footbridge. Cross field to stile turn leftkeeping fence on left to second stile, over stile, fence now to right and continue past cricket club tostile, stone cottages to left. Turn right, follow road and left over bridge to The Black Horse Pub CP6 (602 163).

In 30m at Cockers Farm turn right down track between buildings and continue on track through two gates and ahead across field keeping fence on your right to stile in bottom right hand corner. Over and continue in same direction to track junction. Turn left and follow track, in 50m turn right (ignore track off to your left) to stile by white gate. Over and follow track around field, initially with trees on your right only, to stile. Over and immediately right on road over railway bridge. Over canal bridge and immediately turn right down steps and right under canal bridge(5965 1540). Follow canal. Just before bridge No. 70 (Rigshaw Bridge) (597133) leave canal through metal stile up track to bridge, turn left over bridge and up track to A6. Turn right and follow A6 to mini roundabout, turn left up Railway Road and over railway bridge, turn left at first road (Grove Ave). Down road and at concrete bollard follow footpath between houses. At road turn right and in 100m turn right to Scout Headquarters and finish.

Well Done!!!

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