Appley Bridge to Rufford Walk
Canal walk
A walk of about 8.5 miles along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal (Rufford Branch) from Appley Bridge station to Rufford station. Take the train to Appley Bridge, follow the towpath and catch the train back from Rufford.
- Distance
- 8.5 mi
- Time
- 3 hours
- Train back
- 1hr 8min
The walk
From Appley Bridge station, walk to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, follow the towpath to the junction and turn onto the Leeds and Liverpool Canal (Rufford Branch): 8.3 miles of towpath in all, to Rufford. Getting to and from the towpath adds 0.2 miles away (about 0.2 miles on foot) in all.
Walking distances are estimates from the straight-line distance and the type of ground, not a measured route. Check a map before you set off. Times use Naismith's rule and don't include stops.
Getting there and back
At the end, trains from Rufford back to Appley Bridge take from 1hr 8min. Times are averages from our journey data, not a live timetable.
To Appley Bridge from the cities
- PrestonFrom 44min
- LiverpoolFrom 52min
- ManchesterFrom 58min
- LancasterFrom 1hr 3min
- BirminghamFrom 1hr 55min
- LeedsFrom 1hr 59min
- SheffieldFrom 2hr 10min
- YorkFrom 2hr 26min
Good to know
How long is the Appley Bridge to Rufford walk?
About 8.5 miles from station to station: 8.3 miles along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal (Rufford Branch) and 0.2 miles away (about 0.2 miles on foot) getting to and from the towpath.
How long does it take to walk from Appley Bridge to Rufford?
About 3 hours at 3 miles an hour on the flat towpath, without stops.
How do you get back from Rufford to Appley Bridge?
By train: the quickest journey from Rufford back to Appley Bridge takes 1hr 8min.
How do you get to Appley Bridge by train?
Appley Bridge is 44min from Preston, 52min from Liverpool, 58min from Manchester and 2hr 32min from London by train.