At Nob End are the former workshops of the canal, followed by two canal cottages and the former canal manager’s house; opposite is the imposing Wellfield House and the former Nob Inn. From Nob End the canal clings to the top of the hillside above the River Croal, remaining on one level into Bolton.

Alongside milestone 8¼ is the overflow at Red Rocks, with a double set of stop plank grooves. The canal continues to the wide area at Top o’ th’ Lodge, formerly a boatyard and coal depot. Beyond more plank grooves is the wide ‘blue wall’ length of the canal, named after the blue brick wall which supports it.

At milestone 8¾ the canal ceases to be in water, but the route can be followed past the demolished Hall Lane and Fogg’s Aqueducts to Darcy Lever. Beyond, Damside Aqueduct once carried the canal over the River Croal, but it was demolished in 1965.

Beyond the route can again be followed briefly, but the final approach to Bolton has been obliterated by the dual carriageway of St Peter’s Way (A666). The canal originally ended at Church Wharf, below Bolton Parish Church.