The River Lostock at Lower Kem Mill
Cuerden Valley Park was set up in 1986 to manage
the park for the benefit of all. We open 7 days a week,
365 days a year, and welcome everyone.
The park has 650 acres of parkland, woodland, meadows,
lakes and gardens maintained to a high standard by dedicated
staff and volunteers. Our education programme and conservation
work are highly praised, whilst the recent restoration
of Victorian features in the park have been highly commended
by the likes of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Visitor Centre
The Visitor Centre is located on Berkeley Drive,
off Shady Lane, Bamber Bridge. It is shared between
Cuerden Valley Park Trust and the Wildlife Trust for
Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. At the
Visitor Centre, there is information about the Park
and forthcoming events, trail leaflets, and an interactive
3-D map. A board for "recent wildlife sightings on the
Park" is maintained in the foyer.
Toilets and vending machines for drinks and snacks
are available at the Visitor Centre. The Barn has been
constructed from recycled materials, where possible,
including recycled bricks, floorboards and office furniture.
The central heating system is run on woodchip
from trees felled or coppiced on Cuerden Valley Park
itself.
Woodland products such as woodchip, firewood logs
and barbecue charcoal can be ordered from the Visitor
Centre or by telephoning the Rangers.
Visitors can take advantage of 10 miles of footpaths
on the Park. There is a bridleway, a cycleway (part
of Lancashire County Council's cycleway) and a
lake.
Click here for a map
showing the cycle routes through Cuerden Valley Park.
There is an abundance of nature and wildlife. We
have everything from rare great crested newts to dragonflies, damselflies, green woodpeckers
and roe deer.
The northern part of the Park was laid out in the
early nineteenth century as parkland for Cuerden Hall.
A recent project has seen the restoration of some of
these features, such as the walled orchard, the Pinetum
and American garden, the ice house, the cinder path,
originally built to keep locals from viewing the
estate etc.
At the southern end of the Park is found the remains
of Lower Kem Mill, a bleach and dye works. Work is being
undertaken to excavate, consolidate and interpret
the remains.
Fishing is permitted in two areas of the Park.
See below.
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Car Parking
There are five car parks, all of which are free of
charge:
Kem Mill car park is signposted off A6 at
Whittle-le-Woods, near the chemist.
Town Brow car park is signposted, on the north
side of Town Brow, Clayton-le-Woods. (Note that the
same road is called Lancaster Lane or Sheephill Lane
further along. It runs between "The Hayrick" and "The
Pines").
Berkeley Drive car park is near the visitor
centre, off Shady Lane (no signpost) – just follow Berkeley
Drive round to the right and there are several sets
of parking spaces on the way down to the Park.
Wigan Road car park is signposted, on the
east side of A49 Wigan Road, between the motorway bridges
south of Bamber Bridge.
Stag Lodge car park is located on the east
of A49 just south of the junction with A6 at Bamber
Bridge (no signpost).
All the car parks have height barriers just over
six feet, with the exception of Berkeley Drive car park.
They are level and tarmaced.
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Disabled Access
The track from Town Brow to the lake is over fairly
level ground. Many other paths are over sloping ground
and some have steps. The kissing gates are designed
to allow wheelchairs through. Please contact the Visitor
Centre at The Barn for more information or telephone
01772 324436.
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Fishing
Fishing is permitted on the lake or on the pond in
Cock Cabin Wood. The lake is stocked with coarse fish
(carp, tench, bream, perch, pike and roach).
Permits are available in advance from Lostock Tackle
Box on Watkin Lane in Lostock Hall or on the bank from the Rangers.
Bring your own tackle. Key access for cars, for disabled anglers only,
can be arranged; please contact the Park office in advance.
Prices for permits are:
Day permit - £3.00 in advance or £4.00 on the
day
24-hour permit - £4.50 in advance or £6.00 on
the day
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