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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.
Walk Reports
Monday 9th February 2026
Woods Valleys and Waterways
Today’s walk began with twenty two walkers leaving Ramsbottom Railway Station car park and heading up Bridge Street and along Carr Street to the Rose & Crown. Just before the pub we turned right and joined a narrow footpath to the second hostelry of the day, that of the Old Mill Hotel, which we passed, and followed a wide track that overlooked one of the many mill lodges in the area. At the top of the path, we went through a wooden gate, into Ox Hey Wood, where the path descended steeply into Higher Stubbins. Once through the village we joined another wide track, with views of the mill below, on our right. After a short distance we stopped to look at the ruins of a Tentering Tower, above on our left. Tentering was the process of stretching newly made cloth and letting it dry out to prevent the cloth from shrinking as it dried.
Ox Hey Wood
Tentering Tower
At the end of the path, we crossed over a footbridge into Buckden Wood, where we turned right and walked down into Strongstry. From here we walked along the disused railway line, through Lumb and finally into Irwell Vale where we stopped to enjoy our morning coffee break, on the platform of the East Lancashire Railway. After the break we crossed the railway line and headed up Hardsough Lane into Edenfield.
Strongstry
Irwell Vale
Once across Blackburn Road we walked up East Street, turning right at the top and making our way through the fields to Gin croft Lane. On our way to the lane, we had glorious views over to Peel Tower.
Views of Peel Tower
After crossing the lane, we headed into Dearden Clough and followed the brook down to the ruins of Plunge Mill. Retracing our steps, from the mill, for a short distance we crossed over the brook and joined Michael Wife Lane, which we followed to Rochdale Road. From here it was just a short walk along Bury Old Road passed Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, to the Duckworth Arms, where we had booked lunch.
Dearden Clough
The Plunge
Duckworth Arms
The final section of our walk took us down into Stubbins, where we turned left and joined a footpath that follows the River Irwell into Ramsbottom, the only problem was we first had to go through the lake district, a rather wet field just before Kenyon Street. Not deterred we arrived safely back to the car park having covered ten eventful miles.
The lake district
Monday 2nd February 2026
Kirklees Valley and 7 Mills Walk.
On a very chilly and overcast morning forty five walkers set out from Greenmount Old School to discover the ruins of seven of the many mills that used to operate in the local area. We started the walk by heading down Kirklees Trail as far as Sheperd Street where we turned right and walked to Holcombe Road. After turning left, we made our way over Brookhouse Bridge to the site of the first of the seven mills, Brookhouse Mill, which started life as a spinning mill later it became a weaving mill. It is the only one of the mills still in operation, having been bought by Cormar Carpets, in 1959. The route then took us up a narrow footpath to Stormer Hill Fold, the site of Stormer Farm. Once through the fold we headed across the fields to the site of the second mill, Stormer Hill Works, originally a spinning mill but later becoming a bleach works and finally a textile finishing works until 1997. The building is now let to small enterprises.
Brookhouse Mill
Stormer Hill Mill
From the mill, we headed down Mill Street to Island Lodge Viaduct, this seven arch bridge, opened in 1882, was part of the railway branch line between Bury and Holcombe. After walking under the viaduct, we followed the path around the lodge to the ruins of the third of our mills, Tottington Mill, which also started life as a cotton spinning mill later becoming a calico printing works, initially owned by Joshua Knowles but passing to his brother, Samual, after Joshua’s death in 1853. After spending time learning about the history of the mill, we crossed the bridge over Kirklees Brook walked around the mill lodge before descending to a footpath along the side of the brook and the site of the fourth mill, Kirklees Print Works, originally an early cotton spinning mill using the Arkwright’s water frame. At the end of the path we crossed over the cobbles on Kirklees Street and continued to follow the brook, with the site of Kirklees Bleach Works, the fifth of our mills and now a housing estate, on our left. ICI Courtauld took over the site in 1962 only to close it in the same year.
Island Lodge
Tottington Mill ruins
Heading to Kirklees Print Works
Leaving the brook we climbed through the wood to Kirklees Trail, turning left and heading to the Millenium Bridge, where we looked over to the site of Throstle Grove Mill, which mill six, and it is completely overgrown. After walking along the trail for a short distance we turned right and followed a footpath down to our seventh and final mill, that of Woolfold Mill. As with many other mills it started life as a cotton mill only to become one of the world’s largest paper mills in 1865. By this time, it was called Olives Paper Mill, and it continued to produce high quality paper until 2005.
Leaving the brook
Looking for Throstle Grove Mill
Olive Mill
Coffee stop
It was just a short walk to the bottom of Brandlesholme Road where we stopped for our morning coffee in a small park before joining the Kirklees Trail and walking back to Greenmount, having covered six historic miles.
Wednesday 21st January 2026
Three Reservoirs Walk, Jumbles, Wayoh, and Entwistle.
The second long walk this month began at Jumbles Country Park, on a dull but dry morning with eighteen walkers turning right out of the car park, and headed past the café continuing along the shore of Jumbles Reservoir, as far as the concrete bridge. Staying on the path we followed Bradshaw Brook, through the woods into Turton Bottoms, where we crossed Bolton Road, and headed up to the Black Bull.
Jumbles Reservoir
Bradshaw Brook
Turton Bottoms
After turning left at the pub, we joined a footpath which took us to the embankment of Wayoh Reservoir, the second of our three reservoirs. At the end of the embankment, we climbed the steep slope up to a field at the top, that is designated an area of Scientific Interest. Once across the field we joined a path which descended to the shore of the reservoir and followed it to Crow Trees Lane, which we crossed and continued to follow the path to the top of the reservoir. After crossing the footbridge, over Broadhead Brook, we began the steep climb in Entwistle where we stopped for our morning coffee break.
Wayoh Reservoir
The top of Wayoh
Once refreshed we joined the track, to the left of the Strawbury Duck, passing the houses on our left, built for the employees of the railway. Continuing down the track we soon arrived at the shore of Entwistle Reservoir, the third of our reservoirs, where after passing through a gate, on our right, we continued to walk around the reservoir eventually arriving at Entwistle Reservoir Upper Car Park.
Entwistle
The top of Entwistle Reservoir
After walking across the car park, we joined a footpath that took us through the woods where we had a view, on our left, of the reservoir overflow which is the start of Bradshaw Brook. Continuing through the woods we soon had sight of Bradshaw Brook Railway Viaduct, built in 1848, and after spending time admiring the structure, we continued to descend to the shore of Wayoh Reservoir. We continued along the shore, back to the embankment where we turned right and walked into Chapeltown, where we had booked lunch at the Chetham Arms.
Railway Viaduct
Chetham Arms
Back to Jumbles
It was just a short and familiar walk back to Jumbles Reservoir having covered ten respectable miles.