Wigan to Southport - Ormskirk to Preston Route Guide
Have a day out by train along the Wigan to Southport and Ormskirk to Preston line to experience a wide range of tourist attractions!Introduction
Southport - Wigan Line
This busy commuter route has much to offer the leisure traveller. Why not try the train for a gentle stroll along the Leeds & Liverpool canal, a visit to Martin Mere, or a relaxing meal at one of the many pubs and cafes?
Ormskirk - Preston Line
Linking the major urban areas of Preston and Merseyside, the line offers many opportunities for quiet days out, easy walks and visiting places of historic interest.
Information
Useful Information
TicketsPurchase a Lancashire Day Ranger ticket and hop on and off trains all day along the Wigan - Southport and Ormskirk - Preston lines and throughout Lancashire. Terms and conditions apply.
Where to purchase
Tickets can be purchased at ticket offices at any staffed station or from conductors on trains when starting your journey from unstaffed stations or where the ticket office is closed.
West of Lancashire Community Rail Partnership
The West of Lancashire Community Rail Partnership brings together interested parties to promote and develop the Preston to Ormskirk and Wigan to Southport lines. For more information look at the website www.westoflancscrp.co.uk or call the Community Rail Partnership Officer on 01772 533196.
Tourist Information
Preston Tourism: www.visitpreston.comWest Lancashire Tourism: www.westlancsdc.gov.uk/leisure__tourism.aspx
Southport Tourism: www.visitsouthport.com
Visit www.lancashirewalks.com for details of walks around Rufford and Parbold Hill and much, much more!
Wigan Tourism: www.wlct.org
Locations
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Southport
Southport is a classic Victorian town by the sea - but with a contemporary twist. With so much to do it makes the ideal destination for a day trip or weekend break. Shop along stylish Lord Street, feel the sand between your toes, or perfect your swing on world-class golf courses. There are attractions for all the family: an impressive pier, miles of golden sand and some of the most beautiful parks and gardens in the country.
Parbold
This attractive village lies in the valley of the River Douglas, which is crossed by the Leeds & Liverpool canal at the bottom of Parbold Hill. The village is dominated by Parbold Hill, which is 120 metres above sea level. On the hill lies the recently restored Parbold Bottle, a bottle shaped stone monument that stands about six feet high. From the top there are commanding views of Lancashire and Merseyside, and the Berwyn Mountains in Wales can be seen on a clear day. There are some fine walks starting from the village and taking in Parbold Hill and the canal.
Burscough Bridge Interchange
Burscough is a thriving village located on two railways and the Leeds & Liverpool canal. There are excellent towpath walks from here towards Liverpool or Parbold. A two-mile footpath from the station takes you to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Martin Mere.
Appley Bridge
Appley Bridge has a small station located within the borough of Wigan. Once a thriving village, local industries included quarries, clay pits, paint and linoleum manufacture. There are several convenience shops, two churches, several pubs and a post office. It is said that the name Appley Bridge came from a large apple tree situated next to the bridge that was used to enter the village from the south over the River Douglas.
Gathurst
Alight here for linear walks along the Leeds & Liverpool canal.
Wigan
Wigan sits on the River Douglas and the Leeds & Liverpool canal. Its history is reflected in the 216 listed buildings, of which 20 are Grade II. The town was made famous by George Orwell's book The Road to Wigan Pier, which highlighted the poor working and living conditions in 1930s Wigan. Close to the station is Trencherfield Mill, housing a full size working steam engine, which is open to the public on Sundays.
Ormskirk
Ormskirk is a lively market town which combines history and character with excellent shopping and thriving local industry. It is a popular destination for shoppers with the bustling Charter Market a magnet each Thursday and Saturday.
Burscough Junction
Situated a mile from Burscough Bridge Interchange station, Burscough Junction station offers you easy access to walks along the Leeds & Liverpool canal and the Rufford branch of the canal (turn left at Lathom).
Rufford
Rufford station, a typical country halt, is on the edge of Rufford village surrounded by fields. The village itself is very spread out with many attractive white-walled cottages. Close to the railway is Rufford Old Hall (National Trust), the ancestral home of the Hesketh family, and one of the finest Tudor buildings in Lancashire - the hammerbeamed roof of the Great Hall is outstanding. St Mary's Wharf is close to the station, adjacent to the Rufford branch of the Leeds & Liverpool canal, and is well known locally for fine food. There are many attractive walks around the village and along the canal towpath.
Croston
Croston stands on the fast flowing River Yarrow that runs through the village and is spanned by a 15th-century packhorse bridge. Three churches lie in this picturesque village, which has strong links with agriculture. Church Street has been described as one of the finest examples of a Lancashire village street.
Preston
Preston is the commercial and administrative centre of Lancashire and was awarded city status in 2002 by Her Majesty The Queen in celebration of her Golden Jubilee. Once home to the first cotton mill in the area, it was here that John Horrocks set up his mill, and the town became an important centre of the cotton industry. Today you can find out all about Preston's history at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery; this magnificent listed building (10 minutes walk from the station) houses a wealth of fine contemporary and decorative art, local history and costume. Preston offers shoppers a superb choice at the St George's and Fishergate shopping centres; and the old dock is now a picturesque marina including a cinema complex and restaurants. The Guildhall and Charter Theatre offers a wide range of entertainment. For details of what's on go to www.prestonguildhall.com.
Leeds & Liverpool Canal
The canal was built to transport coal, cotton, flour and other goods between Liverpool and the mill towns of East Lancashire and Yorkshire. Construction work started in 1770, but it was not completed in full until 1816. The canal runs parallel to the railway from Burscough all the way to Wigan and there are many excellent linear walks along the towpath. At Lathom, which is close to Burscough, the canal is joined by the Rufford branch. It is possible to walk this canal all the way to Rufford.
Connections
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