Brindle, Withnell Fold and the Lost Farms of Brinscall Moor

A 10-mile moderate walk taking in several historical locations.   We start in the village of Brindle, further down Water Street from its church which dates back to the 12th century: we will meet in the Brindle Community Hall car park ready to depart at 10.30am.  We then walk to the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, crossing the bridge over to the disused paper mill and 19th century 'model village' of Withnell Fold.  Next, we progress through fields and the Oak Royal Golf Club to the village of Withnell where we shall stop for lunch. 

Renourished, we then head up onto Brinscall Fell where we can explore the remains of several of the 50 farms that were ‘cleared’ by Liverpool Corporation Waterworks Department over the first part of the 20th century, notably ‘Botany Bay’ and ‘Ratten Clough’ (the latter being the best-preserved, having been vacated only in 1960).  Heading down through Wheelton Plantation, we then rise up to ‘Windy Harbour’ and then down into Higher Wheelton and then back down to cross the Leeds-Liverpool Canal before returning to complete our walk in Brindle.