Monday May 7th, Parbold - Burscough Junction

Bank Holiday Monday today and quite a few boats on the move, no doubt heading back to their marina or mooring, having been out for the weekend.

We decided to move on as, despite the weather forecast, it had dawned sunny, if a bit breezy. Needless to say, having had a lie in, we moved off just as the sun disappeared and the clouds started to build up.

Once past the moorings at Parbold, the canal crosses the River Douglas on an aqueduct. The river, our companion since Wigan, now heads across country towards Tarleton where it becomes tidal and part of the Ribble Link passage.

Soon after leaving Parbold, we passed our companions of yesterday who had gone on to tie up yesterday in slightly more remote surroundings.

The countryside immediately flattens out as the hills are left behind us. It is an area of intensive cultivation – the first example of which is a large acreage of turf growing. As we passed, they were actually cutting turves from the fully grown grassed area.

The canal squeezes between two sewage farms and a faint whiff of Eau de Sewage assails the nostrils.

The first of the day’s swing bridges arrives near Hoscar. While the barriers have to be swung by hand, everything else is electrically operated.

A pleasant length follows with fields of leeks still being harvested, and a tree nursery. Moored boats line the canal from the Ring O’ Bells pub to beyond Burscough Junction, another swing bridge interrupting progress. This is a full blown traffic light & automatic barrier job, but we were fortunate enough to time it to follow another boat through.

Approaching Burscough Junction

Burscough Junction is a lovely little place, full of canal historical interest. It is here the Rufford Branch bears off under a delightful stone bridge to drop down the 8 locks to Tarleton where it joins the by-now tidal River Douglas. Since the opening of the Ribble Link and the opening of a couple of new marinas, this area is now a lot busier.

Top Lock, Burscough Junction

A swing bridge is situated immediately above the top lock, with the second immediately below. A now private whitewashed residence stands above the top lock. This was the former pub, known by working boatmen as the "Bloodbucket" - as it doubled as a slaughterhouse. Opposite, an old open air dry-dock has stone sets on which boats rested. Beyond is a charming row of old canal cottages dating back to the opening of the branch. Rightly so, the whole area is now a conservation area.

Drydock and cottages, Burscough Junction

By now, the wind had increased in strength and it had started to spit with rain. Not far past the junction we decided to call it a day (just 3 miles!) and tie up. Soon afterwards the rain started in earnest.