With a long weekend booked off I set about planning a local walk either from the doorstep or across town, both involved a walk along the Leeds & Liverpool canal. I'd set my mind on walking through Haigh Hall, a country park set within acres of woodland open spaces. It was Paula who suggested a walk through Fairy Glen after our daughter and granddaughter had visited prior to lock down so I thought why not, after all I've never been before.

Fairy Glen consists of a woodland trail set alongside Sprodley Brook. The area surrounding the trail is known as Parbold, a small village on the western fringe of town nestled below Parbold Hill. Fairy Glen is found on the southern flank of Parbold Hill which means the trail is quite hilly and also means there's a couple of nice waterfalls to see which I guess where the name Fairy Glen derives from.

The first part of todays walk was almost spoiled by the sheer amount of mud I had to wade through but that didn't stop Brad & Holly enjoying themselves, in fact it was the sight of those two playing around which changed my mind-set, who cares if there's mud, that's what walking boots are made for right!

After a twenty minute drive I arrived at the lay-by at the top of Parbold Hill and began my kit up. Brad & Holly had been sat on the passenger seat shaking with excitement and because I knew how excited they'd be and the fact we would be kitting up next to a main road anything and everything had to be thought of back home even if it meant placing a pair of gloves in my jacket pocket at home and not while holding two very excited Westies who just wanted to run off and explore.

Kit up lasted less than a few minutes and judging by how wet things look underfoot I'm pleased I changed my mind from wearing jeans to my walking trousers. Seeing as the route should only take me a couple of hours or so Im not carrying a pack and all photos are taken using my mobile phone again.

That's where I'm heading next, you wouldn't have thought Storm Chrisoph had been here at all looking how tranquil things look but here in Wigan major roads had flooded along with businesses and some homes too. It was touch and go on Thursday when a Fire Engine showed up in the street which as it turned out was measuring the water level in a brook which links Scotmans Flash with the River Douglas. The brook is less than 50 meters away from my house and although it had broken its banks leaving the water level exceptionally high the level held and we could breathe a sigh of relief.

For the large part it's great living next to the Leeds & Liverpool canal, three huge lakes and a brook but after prolonged rain you find yourself making sure your house insurance is all up to date.

Anyway moving on...Thats the woodland I'm heading for but first a quick view of something that dates back to the Bronze age.

I'm still in the woods now after the trail disappeared into a quagmire of mud, to the left a wire fence where Brad had found a hole and decided to explore, trouble was he couldn't re-locate the hole which meant I had to scale the wire fence to retrieve him, after passing through the mud which had all the consistency of pig swill I managed to pass Brad back over the wire fence and when it was my turn I managed to snag my trousers on the wire.

It's like baby sitting two seven years olds!