Start from the Royal British Legion Club, Gathurst Road, Orrell, Wigan (G.R. 534056).
From the club take broad track to NW onto grassy track towards woods. Over stile at steel gate then downhill on stepped path. Cross footbridge and sharp right over stream (stepping stones). Follow path alongside stream, on right, over Footbridge for three quarters mile. Path crosses stream and after 20 yards re-crosses (stepping stones) and turns North, slightly uphill past fallen tree then down again to follow stream to wooden bridge. Turn sharp left after this bridge (do not cross adjacent metal bridge) on path over footbridge keeping small cascade and main stream on right. Path rises rip steps then down, over fallen tree crossing, stream on left near small waterfall. Path re-joins stream by steps, cross by stepping stones, then left uphill to join the path. Turn left and over stream when path follows stream over footbridge to green metal bridge. Cross and bear left, river Douglas on left. M6 viaduct ahead. Follow broad track, over stile to main road.
CHECKPOINT 1 — G.R. 539073.
Cross road carefully, left under railway bridge and right after station approach at post box. Broad track for one quarter of a mile, turn right over bridge and gate and follow narrow path, past white steel gate, to farm road. Straight across past green bridge on left and second green bridge, cross and up hill to H.J. Heinz and Co. Ltd. Follow perimeter fence, past collage, to main road. Turn right and after 150 yards, cross road into Latham Lane. Immediately after Latham House Farm turn right through stile. Follow footpath around farm buildings and down to stile in corner. Over wooden footbridge turn right and follow path around edge of field to bridge under motorway. Path goes under road and then left between houses, straight ahead alongside school in Howards Lane which joins main road alter 50 yards. Turn left, cross road by Council offices. After 100 yards take path on right at "No through Road" sign, straight ahead between houses. Cross motorway slip roads via blue bridge and ahead past Orrell RUFC. At Edgewood Hall Farm bear right along road to bend. Narrow railway path on left just past Edgewood Hall Cottage (No 22). Path follows fence, stream on left, railway track on right, through kissing gate to stile, under motorway to stile and alongside railway. Ignore bridge on right and as farm is approached turn right over railway bridge, past bungalow to...
CHECKPOINT 2 — G.R. 545039.
Take broad track due West to right and bear right at junction where stone wall turns towards M6 go under motorway bridge passing farm collage and tennis club on left to main road. Turn right and after 120 yards turn left on road, passing Y.M.C.A. bowling green on left, follow path through car park, turn sharp right at end of fence to go between lakes, turn right to Orrell Water Park Centre.
CHECKPOINT 3 — G.R. 532036.
From Checkpoint head south with lakes on left, path turns left over second weir then right. Stay on main path which hears right, over footbridge and ahead over V stile. In 20 yards go over stile on right and follow path to stile. Turn right up sunken path for 100 yards then left over stile. Follow field boundary on left to stile In corner near cottage, then 20 yards to join road. Turn right up Longshaw Old Road and just before junction, left up steps to road. Cross carefully and through metal stile (G.R. 531022). Footpath sign to Billinge Plants. Follow tarmac path, houses on right and as path narrows keep left towards woods, through kissing gate into wood. Keep to main path, ignoring paths to right and left which rises gradually to kissing gate on left follow fence on left to Billinge Hill Tower. Views to southwest are the Promised Land with Liverpool and the Welsh hills beyond (if clear).
CHECKPOINT 4 — G.R. 525014.
Leave from Trig point along fence to left. At Y junction fork right between stone posts and at on reaching fence, turn left and straight on alongside road for 400 yards. Turn right at footpath sign keeping alongside field, over stile near stables to minor road. Turn right and head towards Red Barn Farm. Turn left at footpath sign (Crank Road 0.82km) cross track and continue with barn on right. Keep to field boundary (past another "dead" footpath sign) then ahead between two fields. Path descends, over stream and turns left between fields and through clump of trees to road. Turn right for 30 yards and left up the farm track (metal gate says Private Road). Take left fork past Billinge Hall and follow farm track to Promised Land Farm. 50 yards past farm, at ditch, turn right for 200 yards and left near telegraph pole to stile in corner of field. Head right along fence, cross stile on right near wooden fence. At T junction of paths, turn right uphill and at crest take stone steps on left and follow fence line past Mountains Farm. Head straight on towards chimney stacks to stile in steel fence just before brickworks.
CHECKPOINT 5 — G.R. 521038.
From stile head North, with works on right, passing small lakes on left up to barbed wire fence. Turn right and follow fence which bears left, ignore stile on left, straight on past Tontine reservoir. After 150 yards take stile on left towards the "pepper pots" and pylon. After one quarter of a mile over stile and cross track to double gate, stile on right. Head North towards pylon on wide green track between fences to stile in wooden fence opposite. Cross motorway bridge and left between fences with motorway on left, for one quarter of a mile to stile. Bear right towards two houses and at road, turn right and cross to car park.
CHECKPOINT 6 — G.R. 513043.
Follow footpath up road to Z bend sign (care here - no path on bends) and up to High View Nursery. Turn left behind the train and after 10 yards bear quarter right towards new houses across fields down hill, copse on right to main road. Cross and turn left then first right up Dailton Road, through the estate. At the end of the road cross small field to surfaced footpath, at road turn left and where this bears right carry straight on for 20 yds on footpath link to firther road, carry straight on down this road ignoring turnings to left and right. After passing Annemdale Gardens on right road bears left, look for open area on right hand side and turn right over bank. Follow path for about 200 yds to road, turn right up this road for 50 yds to footpath sign turn left and almost immediately bear right uphill to reach broad path after 20 yds. Turn right on this path and after passing through a tree belt follow this path round to the left Follow this path for half a mile rising towards stand of conifers on crest keep to right of hedge. At car park, turn left along track, turn right beside hedge, continue through trees and cross field half left towards golf driving range via steps and gravel path. Through car park, past golf shop to road and ahead through green gate into Beacon Park Golf Course. Path to right following small black/white markers where possible uphill for half a mile, through trees rising gradually to fallen tree and then small car park.
CHECKPOINT 7 — G.R. 500078.
From car park to road and straight across by side of oak tree, uphill bearing left to Ashurst Beacon. Due West is the Lancashire Plain to Southport and Blackpool due East the West Pennine Moors. From the Beacon turn right (East) on path through bushes to track. Turn left and at 5 barred gate, over stile and right along the fence to stile on right. Cross over footbridge and left along the field boundary, trees on left, to steps down to minor road. Cross to stile and follow field boundary to field corner, turning right uphill to reach road. Turn left on road over bridge and turn right in front of garages and almost immediately left behind Leylandii on narrow path, over stile near metal gate and down sunken path. Cross stream to stile, bear left and uphill to broad track. Turn right and through farmyard (stone hall) and head southwest along track. As path forks at ash tree go right on stoney track to join road on bend. Turn left on road for 300 yards and cross stile on right as road bends to left. Cross golf fairway, straight ahead to marker post and bear right, three trees to second marker post. Keep to right of hedge and head downhill towards a distinct line of conifers. Pass oak tree and ahead through kissing gate to another similar gale in right corner, then left and behind white house to road. Cross carefully and turn right to Fox Inn. Turn left down School Lane passing Don Orione Centre on tarmac track which bends to left to Walthew Green. Pass shrine at Novitiate House and after the cottages you will see
CHECKPOINT 8 — G.R. 523073.
From checkpoint follow main track to fork and bear right along muddy track to another fork. keep to right and then ahead along tree lined avenue and then between fields. At public footpath sign near fence turn left and follow fence for 100 yards to narrow path down to right to stream. Follow stream to metal bridge (ignore wooden bridge) cross metal bridge and bear left uphill. stream below on left. Path keeps going up for 150 yards then swings right to stile at crest. Follow path alongside of hedge on right over stile on right of gate to second stile by steel gate. DO NOT go through farmyard, but keep left of farm buildings to stile in right hand corner of field at Orrell House Farm, down minor road to join main Gathurst Road, continue ahead along footpath, past "The Old Engine" for 300 yards to Orrell British Legion.