The Paths to Wigan Pier

1 Walk past Trencherfield Mill, keeping it to your left, then turn right up the main road. This gives a poor first impression of present-day Wigan but, as you pass under the railway bridge, an unexpectedly elegant street appears. Follow it up to the part-pedestrianised Market Place and straight on down. Just before a dual carriageway go right down setts to St George's Church, then left and over a pedestrian crossing. Turn right for 30yds (27m) then down left alongside the River Douglas. Follow the path by the river until you reach a turning circle. Cross the left-hand bridge and follow the straight, main track until it becomes rougher. Continue for another 100yds (91m), then descend leftwards with steps, to a bridge over a small stream. Go left on a tarmac track for 50yds (46m) then bear right just before a bridge.

2 The track descends to the river, rises again then swings back right. Keep left at a fork. A carved boulder indicates the short track into the old quarry called Devil's Canyon, now an adventure playground.
Return to the main track and continue another 60yds (55m) then go left up steps. The path leads past former almshouses known as The Receptacle, then joins a track across fields. Turn right on a lane (Hall Lane) and follow it to Hall Lane Lodge. Go left just before the lodge, then fork right to a canal basin. Iron ore and limestone off-loaded here were carried down a tramway where Hall Lane now runs.

3 Turn right on the canal tow path to an iron bridge (No 60). Go right, up steps and down the drive across the old railway, then swing left and down. As it bends back right, go left on a track alongside a brook.

4 After crossing the stream, go up left to the old railway and turn right. Keep straight on as the path gets narrower (and sometimes muddy), passing under a main road. Follow the virtually straight path through regenerating vegetation. On both sides are housing estates built on former colliery land. You emerge at a canal basin in the middle of a flight of locks. The climb up Rabbit Rocks opposite rewards with marvellous views. Return to the tow path and follow it down. Cross the road at Rose Bridge and continue past Whalley's Basin, formerly the junction of a branch canal, now silted up, full of reedmace and popular with anglers.

5 Cross another road, go under two rail bridges and past the starkly modernist Girobank building. At a canal junction keep to the right branch, cross another road, and return to the tow path. At Bottom Lock your starting point is just to the right, but carry straight on for a proper look at Wigan Pier. Go under the next bridge then up and along to a footbridge. Cross this and go left past the Orwell. Finally, retrace your steps to Trencherfield Mill.