My night was spent on the edge of the old Blackstone Edge Delph. It was breezy when I pitched the tent and the wind got up even more during the night. I’d pitched in an exposed position on purpose as I’d wanted to test the tent in the wind. Considering its size and low number of pegging points I considered it did very well. It was also quick and easy to pack down, even in a gale.

The Old Packhorse trail

The Old Packhorse trail & A58 in the distance

I was on my way before 7am and set off along the drainage channel to the south. I came to the old packhorse road with its surface of stone sets and central channel. The 1840s map calls it a packhorse road but the modern map says it is a Roman Road. It doesn’t look anything like old enough to be Roman and its also on too steep a gradient and not quite straight. My money’s on the old map’s description.

I descended the track to the main A58 road and noticed what looked like an old stone cross base but I couldn’t find any reference to it on the map. Further down I came to the old toll house and turned left off the main road and on to Blackstone Edge Old Road.

Toll House & Blackstone Edge Old Road

Stone slab plaque on Littleborough station

Stone slab plaque on Littleborough station:
THE FIRST SECTION OF THE MANCHESTER & LEEDS RAILWAY FROM OLDHAM ROAD MANCHESTER TO LITTLEBOROUGH WAS FORMALLY OPENED AT THIS STATION ON 3rd JULY 1839. THE SUMMIT TUNNEL WAS COMPLETED AND THE WHOLE LINE OPENED FOR TRAFFIC ON 1st MARCH 1841. THE ENGINEER WAS GEORGE STEPHENSON WHO ATTENDED AND SPOKE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY. “Erected 1951”

There were few houses at first but more as I approached Littleborough. I crossed the Rochadle Canal and walked into town. I found a Railway Station sign and followed it to the station. It had just gone 8am and I was surprised to find the ticket office open. I bought a single ticket to Chorley for £8.80 and waited for the 8:22 train which arrived on time. I changed at Manchester Victoria, then Bolton, arriving in Chorley where I changed to the bus home. Amazingly I was home just after 10am.

Littleborough Railway Station.