01STARRoute starts from Porters Wood car park. Ttake Gathurst Road North.image/jpegWaypoint02ACKLJust before reaching Ackhurst Lane take track East (right) off road beside house.image/jpegWaypoint03COLETake path beside wall and follow it West beside Ackhurst Brook.image/jpegWaypoint04POTWFollow path as it heads North (left) up slope. Some good views of Winter Hiill on this section.image/jpegWaypoint05RAILAfter taking bridge over rail line turn East (right) along footpath beside rail track.image/jpegWaypoint06HEINTurn North (left) on path heading away from rail line and take footbridge over River Douglas.image/jpegWaypoint07TOWPFollow Leeds Liverpool Canal towpath West (left).image/jpegWaypoint08GATLLeave canal and take Gathurst Lane briefly South (left).image/jpegWaypoint09BRIDAfter passing under bridge carefully cross road and take path West beside railway.image/jpegWaypoint10M6Continue on track as it passes under M6 motorway.image/jpegWaypoint11DEABTake footbridge over Dean Brook and follow path North (right).image/jpegWaypoint12NOENFollow path as it heads West (left) beside field boundaries up the hill. Take time to admire view behind over valley to Winter Hill.image/jpegWaypoint13PERPTake permissive path through goose compound onto Ayrefield Road.image/jpegWaypoint14AYRRTake footpath South (left) between houses and beside field boundary.image/jpegWaypoint15WHIRTurn SE (left) along Whitley Road.image/jpegWaypoint16LEARLeave Whitley Road and take farm track heading East (left) down slope towards Dean Brook.image/jpegWaypoint17VALSTurn South (right) and follow path running parallel to Dean Brook as it descends down to Brook.image/jpegWaypoint18FOOTCross footbridge and continue South along West bank of Dean Brook.image/jpegWaypoint19CLIMTake footbridge over Dean Brook and take steps up East side of gorge to join farm track.image/jpegWaypoint20MEAVUpon reaching Gathurst Road turn briefly left (North)image/jpegWaypoint21SPRRCarefully cross Gathurst Road and take Spring Road NE under M6.image/jpegWaypoint22BEM6Leave Spring Road immediately after passing under M6 by taking path NE (left) beside motorway.image/jpegWaypoint23POTWAll done.image/jpegWaypointGathurst CircularLength: 9.994 km (6.21 mi)