This is a relatively simple walk that explores some of Wigan's industrial heritage, the skill of Victorian civil engineers and the sad state that these genuine hidden gems of the Wigan landscape are now in. As sad as it is to see buildings and structures fall into disrepair and nature begin to reclaim what was hers, it offers the photographer a multitude of opportunities from imposing bridge shots to close ups of crumbling brickwork.
Despite living in the area for most of our lives up to early 2019 we had never heard about either of these structures, known locally as 20 bridges and 13 bridges. Both viaducts are in the Douglas Valley on the edge of Haigh Hall and they are impressive examples of civil engineering from days before concrete and steel. They're reminders of a time when train lines criss-crossed the landscape - not just carrying passengers but more often coal from the many pits that made up the Lancashire Coal Field.
Now overgrown and crumbling they are in a sad state but their size, scale and hidden location just adds to the mystery and great photographic value.
We did the walk in early April 2019 over 2 visits with dry ground. Care should be given if conditions are wet or after heavy rain - you are near the River Douglas and the ground is prone to flooding. Our route is approximately 5km over reasonable terrain though on site there are some banks and climbs though nothing too strenuous. The site is heavily wooded and views could be best in late Autumn, Winter or early Spring when there are fewer leaves. Please take note of the warning signs.
Below we've added some of our favourite photos from 20 Bridges.
Despite living in the area for most of our lives up to early 2019 we had never heard about either of these structures, known locally as 20 bridges and 13 bridges. Both viaducts are in the Douglas Valley on the edge of Haigh Hall and they are impressive examples of civil engineering from days before concrete and steel. They're reminders of a time when train lines criss-crossed the landscape - not just carrying passengers but more often coal from the many pits that made up the Lancashire Coal Field.
Now overgrown and crumbling they are in a sad state but their size, scale and hidden location just adds to the mystery and great photographic value.
We did the walk in early April 2019 over 2 visits with dry ground. Care should be given if conditions are wet or after heavy rain - you are near the River Douglas and the ground is prone to flooding. Our route is approximately 5km over reasonable terrain though on site there are some banks and climbs though nothing too strenuous. The site is heavily wooded and views could be best in late Autumn, Winter or early Spring when there are fewer leaves. Please take note of the warning signs.
Below we've added some of our favourite photos from 20 Bridges.
map and guide notes
Click on the map below to open up the interactive version to accompany our guide notes.
Start/Finish - we chose to park in the small car park on the canal bank near Bridge 63 just off the B5239 - Red Rock Lane - be careful its a hump-back bridge with traffic lights.
From there walk along the canal path for 1km to Bridge 62. This stretch, in line with many a canal path, offers a wide variety of photo opportunities from canal boats to swans and geese, wide open views of the fields of Haigh, the bridges, views towards Standish and, depending on what time of the day and season you visit, the most perfect reflections in the water.
POINT 1 Walk up the steps onto bridge 62 and then turn right onto Pendlebury Lane. From here you will be able to photograph the view of the canal from bridge height and once again you will find spectacular views across the fields and if you’re lucky, farmers hard at work ploughing and harvesting.
Follow the lane for approx 500 m passing a small number of houses. The lane takes you through an old brick structure that carried a bridge but the span is no longer there, continue another 100 m and you'll see a railway arch over the road.
POINT 2 You've now reached the main intact viaduct - "20 Bridges".
From there walk along the canal path for 1km to Bridge 62. This stretch, in line with many a canal path, offers a wide variety of photo opportunities from canal boats to swans and geese, wide open views of the fields of Haigh, the bridges, views towards Standish and, depending on what time of the day and season you visit, the most perfect reflections in the water.
POINT 1 Walk up the steps onto bridge 62 and then turn right onto Pendlebury Lane. From here you will be able to photograph the view of the canal from bridge height and once again you will find spectacular views across the fields and if you’re lucky, farmers hard at work ploughing and harvesting.
Follow the lane for approx 500 m passing a small number of houses. The lane takes you through an old brick structure that carried a bridge but the span is no longer there, continue another 100 m and you'll see a railway arch over the road.
POINT 2 You've now reached the main intact viaduct - "20 Bridges".
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At this point it is not easy to get any good photos of the viaduct and you may wonder if you have wasted your time, but as you make your way alongside the imposing structure it will all become worthwhile.
If you follow the path on the right hand side this will take you alongside the bridge to the River Douglas. POINT 3 It is best here to adopt the ‘try everything’ method of photography! Look up, crouch down, use the arches as a frame. Focus on one span or try and fit as much of the structure as you can. Contrast nature with the man made structure. You will find trees and foliage growing all over the bridge and the river offers even more opportunities. Go through the individual arches looking for graffiti and interesting brickwork. Again try looking up and see if you can capture the sheer scale and beauty of the structure. Rejoin the path which continues away from "20 Bridges" alongside the Douglas or the Duggie as its called in Wigan. Keep the river to your left and follow this path for about 300m and you will then see in front the tall brick structures of "13 Bridges". |
POINT 4 The sheer size of these structures will astound you. Try to capture that feeling in your photographs – shoot wide landscape views of the scene with the four remaining towers rising above the trees.
Get close to the structures and again look for the graffiti and the brickwork. Focus on these and experiment with what you can get in the background. Capture the sheer scale of the structures by standing underneath one of the towers and taking the photograph towards the sky – almost leaning on the structure itself.
As you retrace your steps and head back to the Start/Finish point you will see photo opportunities you missed on the way there. It is hard not to get multitudes of interesting shots; moody bridge views, imposing skies, close up brickwork.
We hope you will share your images us on our Facebook page or e-mail them into us and we may feature them here. We look forward to seeing them!
FIRST PUBLISHED 23 APRIL 2019
Get close to the structures and again look for the graffiti and the brickwork. Focus on these and experiment with what you can get in the background. Capture the sheer scale of the structures by standing underneath one of the towers and taking the photograph towards the sky – almost leaning on the structure itself.
As you retrace your steps and head back to the Start/Finish point you will see photo opportunities you missed on the way there. It is hard not to get multitudes of interesting shots; moody bridge views, imposing skies, close up brickwork.
We hope you will share your images us on our Facebook page or e-mail them into us and we may feature them here. We look forward to seeing them!
FIRST PUBLISHED 23 APRIL 2019
