Email info@westpennineway.org, or 'phone 07854260947, for further information.
Follow the route of the Pilgrims 
from Whalley to Manchester.
For detailed information on this walk click Pilgrims' Way or click the picture.
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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
VILLAGE LINK
To view the Village Link website and its walks,
click the Village Link logo.
WALK REPORTS
Wednesday 22nd November 2023
Pilgrims’ Way: Third walk of four from Whalley to Manchester
Seventeen walkers began the walk from behind Greenmount Church and headed through the mud of Two Brooks Valley to the point just above Hawkshaw, where we had left the route on the second of these walks.
Once on the route we turned left and made our way, through the fields, up to Turton Road. After crossing the road, we joined the track up to Tom Nook Farm and after a short distance we turned left onto Black Lane which we followed it up to Affetside.
The Pack Horse Affetside
The Cross on a sunnier day
By now the mist had descended so we did not linger for too long at the ancient cross before heading down Watling Street, the old Roman Road, to the junction with Tottington Road. Taking the track opposite, known as Bowstone Hill Road, we headed to the kissing gate, at the end of the road that led into more muddy fields. Once across the fields we crossed Harwood Road, at Old Holts Farm, where we joined even more muddy fields up to Barrack Fold Farm. From here it was just a short distance, down their access road, into Ainsworth where we enjoyed the warmth of our coffee behind the King William Pub.
The route then took us a short distance down Bradley Fold Road before turning left where once again we headed across muddy fields to Starling Road, which we crossed and headed down to Bolton Road. After crossing the road, we followed the route until we reached Withins Reservoir, where we stopped for lunch. From here it was a short walk into Radcliffe where we first passed The Old Tithe Barn, now a MOT garage and then The Old Cross pub before arriving at St Mary’s Church. A church existed on this site in Saxon times and the tower dates back to the 13th century.
St Mary's Church
Radcliffe Tower
After spending some time admiring both the church and the tower, we caught the bus back to Greenmount having covered, by foot, 8.5 very muddy miles.
Monday 13th November 2023
The third circular walk on the West Pennine Way: Belmont to Rivington.
Due to the arrival of Strom Debi, it was decided to shorten the walk, and two cars were parked at the Pigeon Tower car park in Rivington to make our return journey back to Belmont. Nine hardy walkers left the car park at San Marino’s restaurant and after crossing Belmont Road, we joined the West Pennine Way (WPW) and started the steep climb to the summit of Winter Hill. By the time we reached the we started to feel the full force of the wind.
Starting the climb
Trig Point
From the trig point we headed down to the base of the TV mast where we stopped to look at the two memorial plaques; one to the thirty-six fatalities of the plane crash in 1958, on the same night as the Munich air disaster, and the other in memory of George Henderson, from Annan Dumfriesshire, murdered on Winter hill in 1838. Once passed the mast we turned left and followed the WPW markers over Smithills Moor until we reached the stile at the top of Roscow’s Tenement Clough. This was blocked off due to the lack of maintenance on the footpath.
Base of mast
Taking the alternative route, we climbed back onto the moors, taking the path that passes Dean Mill Reservoir. At the far end of the reservoir, we joined the footpath on our right and descended to Coal Pit Lane where we turned right and headed to the Mass Trespass Memorial stone. The stone that commemorates the day ten thousand people protested at not having access to the moor, sadly permission was not granted until 1996.
Dean Mill Reservoir
Memorial Stone
After stopping for morning coffee, at the memorial stone, we continued along the lane, passing Holden’s Farm and the ruins of the brick works, before rejoining the access road to the TV mast. Once on the road we turned right and looked for the WPW way marker, to direct us over Wilder’s Moor, unfortunately the marker post was in a ditch, so we had to trust our memory to guide us over the moor. On the top of the moor, we experienced the full force of Storm Debi and it was difficult to stay upright, but before making our decent we admired the two large stone cairns, called Two Lads, which local folklore says is the burial ground of two young walking buddies.
Two Lad's Cairns
Meeting the wind
Once we had safely arrived at Pike Cottage we turned right on George’s Lane and headed towards Rivington. The WPW route now goes up to Rivington Pike but as the wind was still blowing very strongly, we decided to give it a miss and headed for the shelter of the gardens and somewhere to our lunch.
Pigeon Tower
Italian Lake
Cascade
After lunch we walked through the gardens, where we admired the cascades which were looking at their best due to the recent heavy rain and continued down to the Seven Arch Bridge. From the bridge it was just a short walk back to the Pigeon Tower car park having covered nine very windy miles.
Walk through the gardens
Seven Arch Bridge