A Jolly Jaunt on the Wigan Water Legacy Walk
The Early Bird Catches the Worm
Rise and shine, dear readers! This morning, Darren and I embarked on a cheeky little adventure known as the Wigan Water Legacy Walk. Picture us bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 08:30, ready to explore the delightful flashes and charming canal towpaths right on our doorstep.
We hopped into the car and zipped off to a quaint car park just opposite La Cava on the A557, near Ince-in-Makerfield. From there, we set off along the National Cycle Route 55, our sights firmly set on the Wigan canal locks along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The weather was playing nice – dry and fair – perfect conditions for our little escapade.
Canal Locks and Lady Power
The Wigan locks are quite the sight to behold. This series of locks on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal climbs to an impressive height of 214′ 8″ (or 65.43m, for those who prefer metric). We had the pleasure of watching three different canal barges navigate these watery staircases. It’s fascinating, really – each lock takes a good 15-20 minutes to traverse.
What tickled us most was observing the crews at work. It seems the ladies were in charge of the heavy lifting, opening and closing those hefty lock gates, while their male counterparts lounged about on the barges. Quite the role reversal, and rather amusing to witness!
Wandering to the Wigan Flashes
Roughly halfway through our jaunt, we bid the canal towpath farewell and headed towards the Wigan Flashes. Now, these aren’t your everyday wetlands. They’re eight shallow lakes born from the remnants of Wigan’s mining heyday. Thanks to subsidence and a bit of flooding, these flashes have now morphed into a haven for wildlife and a splendid spot for public recreation.
Despite the early hour, we encountered a handful of friendly folk, all cheerily greeting us with a “good morning”. It’s always lovely to see such camaraderie among fellow walkers.
A Minor Map Mishap
We can’t have an adventure without a little hiccup, now can we? Darren, our trusty navigator, had a slight lapse in map-reading skills, leading us to backtrack about 100 metres. No harm done, though – it’s all part of the fun!
For the most part, the path was a breeze, paved and easy to tread. There was a brief stretch of muddy track, but nothing too challenging. Definitely a walk we’ll be encouraging Michele and Tracy to join next time – it’s too delightful not to share!
Home Stretch and Reflections
After nearly three hours of delightful strolling, including a quick pit stop for a sandwich and a sip of water, we clocked in just under 7 miles. Not too shabby for a morning’s outing!
This walk was just what the doctor ordered to blow away the cobwebs and soak in the natural beauty of the Wigan Water Legacy Walk. If you’re ever in need of a bit of fresh air and a charming adventure, this walk certainly fits the bill.
