Click the picture to enlarge
Click the picture to enlarge
PILGRIMS' WAY
Follow the route of the Pilgrims 
from Whalley to Manchester.
For detailed information on this walk click Pilgrims' Way or click the picture.
MAP OF THE WEST PENNINE WAY
WALK REPORTS
Wednesday 20th September 2023
Walk Report for the first section of the Pilgrims Way - Whalley to Haslingden
Nine walkers braved the wet weather to walk the first section of the Pilgrims Way, a route Pilgrims would have taken many years ago.
Saxon Cross Whalley Church
The path up Whalley Nab
The walk started at St Mary and All Saints Church in Whalley and followed the High Street before crossing the River Calder. The river was swollen and fast-flowing as a result of heavy rain the day before. The route then followed a steep path up Whalley Nab and into fields and farmland. At a small stream crossing one of the group saw an Otter scurrying along the stream towards the river. It was a rare sight and one we were unable to catch on camera.
Stone bridge - spot the otter!
On the approach to the town of Great Harwood, the group experienced heavy rain and strong winds making the going quite tough at times. Some respite from the weather was taken in a covered seating area at the Memorial Park. After this short break, the route took us through Great Harwood Town Centre and onto the Leeds and Liverpool canal footpath. By this time the rain and wind had got worse making it quite unpleasant.
Nearly there
St James - Church Kirk
The weather improved by the time we reached St James Church in Church Kirk. There has been a church on this site since 642 AD and the site is historically associated with St Oswald who camped here on his route from Northumbria to Maserfield in Cheshire to do battle. The tower dates from the late medieval period and the nave was built in 1804-5. Sadly the church is now redundant having closed in 2015.
The walk continued back along the canal before crossing the M65 motorway on the Dunkenhalgh Viaduct and then followed the Hyndburn Green Way a former railway line now a footpath and cycle path.
Lunch in the rain
Lunch was taken at Platts Lodge nature reserve. Here we could clearly see the remains of the bridge supports which once carried the Accrington to Manchester railway line over the lodge. A little further up we picked up a trail known locally as ‘Woodnock’ which has been constructed on the old rail line. This is a 2.8 km multi-use trackway suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding.
Woodnock
We continued to Baxenden and walked close by the famous Hollands pie factory. The walk finished at Hud Rake in Haslingden close to St James Church which is the starting point of the next section of the Pilgrims' Way.
Distance covered - 13 miles.
Monday 11th September 2023
West Pennine Circular Walk report - Greenmount to Turton Tower
14 walkers met at Greenmount Church for September's circular walk over to Turton Tower.The weather was overcast and stayed dry for most of the day except for a short shower just prior to lunch.
The walk began by crossing Greenmount golf links and then passing Hollymount School and Orchard before descending to Bottoms Hall Cottages in Tottington. From here it was a steep climb to Turton Road and then a further climb to Windmill Farm and beyond to Yeomans Farm. Here the group split into two to allow those with a fear of cows to walk on the road and meet the other walkers further up on Watling Street.
We walked up Watling Street for a short distance to the stone cross at the centre of Affetside Village. The Cross is thought to be medieval in date and was probably a pilgrim's cross that was used as a place to stop and pray for a safe journey by weary but religious travellers.
We turned left at the cross and descended through meadows and a lane to Bradshaw Road. Once safely across this busy road, we passed Bradshaw Fisheries and continued up to the Jumbles reservoir and country park.
The group had a short break outside the Jumbles cafe before continuing along the reservoir to Chapeltown. On the path just before the main road, we passed a Pill Box which was constructed between 1940-41 as a defence against a possible enemy invasion during the Second World War. The structure is still in reasonable condition despite its age although it’s unlikely to have seen any action.
The next stop was lunch taken in the lovely gardens of Turton Tower. The property is a distinctive English Country home and is over 600 years old. Originally built by by the Tudor Orrell family to defend their land, it later became a luxurious home furnished and extended in both the Tudor and early Stuart periods. It is now a museum and cafe.
After lunch the group walked through the centre of Chapeltown Village taking a short stop at the village stocks. The route continued past a football ground belonging to Old Bolts FC who were formed in 1871 as the first football club in Lancashire.
The walk then descended into Turton Bottoms and up to Quarlton Farm. The remaining miles were over farm fields to Hawkshaw Village and back to Greenmount via the golf course.
Distance covered - 10 miles
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
