The Leeds and Liverpool canal has some interesting stretches, and the walk through Burnley town and back is a gentle and pleasant afternoon’s walk. Park your car at Barden Mill car park (get back before it closes and have excellent refreshments in the Tea Rooms – and buy some bargains – a well –rounded afternoon). The bridge at Barden Mill is an original canal bridge, under the bridge is a housing estate to the right and views towards Pendle Hill and beyond. The towpath walk at this point will please the nature lover with a fine range of plants and woodland. Walk on this towpath towards Burnley you will see the Colne to Preston railway crossing the canal, and at the sharp right turn two mills built in the 1880s. The next stretch of canal is interesting for the variety of mill architecture lining the bank opposite the towpath. Along this length can be found one of several ramps down into the canal – these are horse pull-outs – on busy stretches of canal horse frequently feel in and needed to be pulled out. Under Colne Road bridge and a short way past Bank Hall Miner’s club was Bank Hall Colliery, now disappeared and landscaped.  The canal then crosses Brun aqueduct and passes through Thomson Park – a wonderful stretch and lots to look at. Turning under Godley bridge you will find another wonder of the network – the Burnley Embankment – often called the straight mile (though only 500 yards long). Carrying the canal 60feet in the air it gives really good views of the area. At the end of the embankment there is an exit to the town centre. If you have a lift, and you are interested in industrial architecture, it is worth walking along  from here to the Gannow tunnel. You will reach the superb Manchester Road Wharfe – where the is the beginning of restoration and is looking very much smarter. Otherwise I would suggest you turn round after the Embankment and return to Barden Mill. It is actually worth another excursion to do the walk up to the Wharfe from  Burnley Town Centre  or alternatively you can park in the courtyard of the Wharfe and walk back down again. Be quick though – all this wonderful canal heritage is likely to disappear soon !