Wednesday 19 November 2025 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 16 - Wigan to Leigh

Sue and I were joined by Paul and Jeanette, and Alan and Sheila, on a cool but sunny day.

Alan and Sheila were already ensconced in the café opposite Wallgate Station by the time the rest of us arrived soon after 11 am. Then, after a stroll down Wallgate, we passed Wigan Pier and joined the towpath of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.

Trencherfield Mill, an icon of the cotton trading years, appears to have been adapted, like a number of similar mills in this area, for modern use.

Life on the canal was somewhat different in bygone days.

Benchmarks crop up in unexpected spots

Pretty cottages were passed

This is one canoe that our residents canoeists, Paul and Jeanette, did not covet

As at home, the willow trees are still resisting shedding their leaves

Thankfully, we are not going all the way (today)

The Wigan pelican was wrestling with a fish

Here's the rest of the gang, rather more wrapped up than on earlier stages

Scotman's Flash was soon left behind, in favour of some tracks through farmland. Still ready to absorb some of the recent rain before the inevitable winter waterlog.

Rufus, leading the way, was on good form today

There were good views to Winter Hill, the final hill on this trail, visited a couple of weeks ago.

We came across a lesser path, 'The Enchanted Trail'.

A picnic bench at the edge of a relatively recently planted wood, Viridor Wood, came at an ideal time for a lunch stop.

After that, good paths led us back to the towpath.

There should be lots of life in several areas of bullrushes

This swan wasn't really impressed by our trespassing through his garden

Boardwalks and good paths led back to the canal

The Dover Lock Inn is up for sale

All paths lead to Pennington Flash, the largest of a number of Flashes in this area, being a 70-hectare lake created by coal mining subsidence.

At either side of a bridge with a low narrow passage for horses, dismounting blocks

We left the canal for good at Plank Lane drawbridge, near to a large marina with new housing.

Ackers Whitley's Basin

Onwards we plodded, around the edge of Pennington Flash Country Park.

Our flasks were emptied and more cake was consumed at a picnic bench near the relatively new café.

A final stroll through the park at sunset and onwards past the impressive Leigh Sports Village, took us into Leigh past a large church, and on to the smart bus station.

The V1 bus then took us all the way to St Peter's Square, for a crowded tram ride home.

Here's our route - 17 km with 150 metres ascent, taking 4½ hours.

 
That was another excellent day on the GM Ringway Trail. Next week it's stage 17 on Tuesday 25 November. Here's the flier:

GM Ringway Trail - Stage 17 - Leigh to Irlam. Meet at Leigh Bus Station at 10:53 for this seventeenth 17km stage of the 20 stage circuit of Greater Manchester.
Arrive on the 10:08 V1 bus from Princes St/Mosley St.
Return to Manchester by regular train service from Irlam to Oxford Road.