WEST PENNINE WAY
You can view youtube videos of the West Pennine Way by clicking videos wpw
Read this West Pennine Way Blog - click WPW Blog
PILGRIMS' WAY
Follow the route of the Pilgrims 
from Whalley to Manchester along the Pilgrims' Way.
For detailed information on this walk click Pilgrims' Way or click the picture.
VILLAGE LINK
To view the Village Link website and its walks,
click the Village Link logo.
COME WALKING AROUND GREENMOUNT
You can download a map of a walk and the gpx file for the walk shown on the Community Notice Board map, by clicking Come Walking Around Greenmount
Walk Reports - Summer 2023
Grants Tower Walk – Friday 19 May 2023
The walk started at 18:20 and dark skies threatened to make it a wet evening, thankfully the rain stayed away.
Leaving Nuttall Park
The walk began from Nuttall Park in Ramsbottom and followed Nuttall Lane for a short distance before crossing the River Irwell and then climbing up through the fields over the M66 motorway to the A56 Manchester Road. The group crossed this busy road before passing Bast House and continuing through the fields (passing a bull and a herd of cows with calves) in the direction of Nangreaves Village. Before the village we turned off left onto Bury Old Road passing Bent House and Hoof Farms before arriving at Grants Tower. The group took a short break at the tower which is in the process of being restored. Despite this we were able to access the small viewing platform located on the east side of the building.
Grant's Tower
Bury Old Road
View from the Tower
The tower at Top O’th Hoof Farm was built by brothers Daniel & William Grant and it is said to be the first location where the Grants had their first sight of the town where they made their fortune having travelled from Scotland in the early 1780’s. It was 50 feet high when first built but deteriorated over time and collapsed in September 1944.
Returning to Nuttall Park
From here we made our way past the Pawprints Kennels at Pikes Farm and down through the fields to a bridge to cross the M66 motorway again. The last part of the journey took the group down steps known as Jacobs Ladder back to Nuttall Park. The steep climb/descent of the ‘ladder’ (known as a stairway to heaven) was used for many years by the congregation that worshipped at Park Chapel located on Manchester Road. The chapel is no longer in use as a place of worship, but the steps are part of the Village Link trail connecting six of Bury’s most historic villages.
The walk finished at 20:20 and covered 4 miles.
Monday 15th May 2023
The Third of the Pikes and Trig Points Walks:
Walsden to Stoodley Pike.
Eleven walkers met at Walsden Railway Station on a bright but breezy morning. The first section of the walk followed the West Pennine Way (WPW) Link Route which goes from Bull Hill, on Holcombe Moor, to the Pennine Way. Following the way markers, we headed up Alma Street and joined the track leading to Rake End. Continuing the climb onto Walsden Moor we soon arrived at The Basin Stone, a millstone grit outcrop in the shape of an anvil. The shape was ideal as a pulpit and was used for meeting of the Chartists and nonconformist preacher, including, it said by Charles Westley.
Leaving Walden
WPW Link Route
The Basin Stone
The next point of interest on route was Gadding Dam, which is a popular spot for wild swimming, with only one hardy soul venturing into the water on this chilly morning. After the reservoir the route is made easier by stone slabs having been laid across the wet moorland, unfortunately one large section was missing the stones and it proved very difficult to negotiate past it. After joining the Pennine Way, we turned left and headed toward Stoodey Pike stopping along the way to enjoy our morning coffee, overlooking Withens Clough Reservoir.
Gadding Dam
Difficult Path
Once at the Pike we spent some time admiring the views overlooking Todmorden and up to Hebden Bridge, we could also clearly see the track we were going to join once we have climbed down the steep slope, along the side of the hill. As we walked along the track, we spent time trying to identify the wide variety of flora a fauna. Soon we arrived at the very attractive hamlet of Mankinholes where we made use of some stone sheep to eat our lunch.
Stoodley Pike
View from the Pike
After lunch we continued through the hamlet as far as the youth hostel, where we turned left and headed across the field to Lumb Butts, turning left at the Top Brink pub. After a short walk, along the road we joined a footpath that took us through the very attractive, Causeway Wood, which was full of wild garlic. At the end of the wood, we joined the Rochdale canal and headed through Todmorden and onto Walsden having covered 10 sunny and interesting miles.
Mill at Lumb Butts
Causeway Wood
Rochdale Canal in Todmorden