WEST PENNINE WAY

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WEDNESDAY 17th APRIL 2019

2nd of 9 Walks to Complete the West Pennine

Way: Winter Hill, Longworth Clough, Dimple and Belmont

 

 

On a bright but chilly morning eight walkers set-off from the lay-by on Rivington Road turning right for a short distance before turning left up a track known as Belmont Road. At the first stile, on our left, we climbed over it and headed up the steep footpath that leads to the summit of Winter Hill (433m) where we stopped at the trig point to get our breath back and to admire the views, which were not good as there was a mist at the top of the hill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking away from the mast we joined the West Pennine Way (WPW), at the top of Dean Ditch and followed it all the way down to Belmont Road, which we crossed, into the car park of San Marino’s Restaurant and continued along the WPW through the fields and down to the Ornamental Reservoir at the start of Longworth Clough.

 

 

 

 

 

Once in the clough we looked for a suitable place to stop for a coffee break and as by this time the day was getting hotter, to remove a layer of clothing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having been refreshed we continued along the WPW, leaving Longworth Cough and climbing up to Higher Critchley Fold Farm and Green Arms Road which we crossed and turned right onto a footpath that goes past the embankment of Delph Reservoir which looked a bright blue colour in the morning sunshine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once again we enjoyed the tranquillity of the memorial garden at Walmsley Unitarian Church, Dimple, for an early lunch stop. After lunch we left the WPW for another day and turned immediate left outside the garden and headed for the Witton Weaver’s Way which passed through a lovely valley on Longfield Hall Plantation as we walked through the trees we were greeted by the sight of four row deer crossing the path and heading into the trees, we had already seen several, pheasants, skylarks, lap wings and heard the cry of curlews on the walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After skirting Hole Bottoms disused quarry, we crossed Edgerton Road and continued along Witton Weavers Way until we came to the first footpath sign on our left where we could see Belmont Village in the distance using the steeple of the church as a way-marker we headed for the village.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On reaching Belmont Reservoir we crossed the embankment and walked up to Belmont Road turning left for a short distance before crossing the road onto a footpath which took us onto Edge End Moor and back to the lay-by, where we had started the walk having covered 10 enjoyable miles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 8th April 2019

Monthly Short Walk: Greenmount, Tottington Mill Wood, Summerseat, Holcombe Brook Valley, Redisher Wood and Greenmount

On a bright sunny morning twenty-three walkers ventured down the Kirklees Trail turning left just before the viaduct over Island Lodge. It was good to see that the tree, which was in danger of toppling into the lodge and taking part of the island with it, had been cut down thanks to the efforts of Christine T and Bury Council’s Pitch Funding bidding process.

At the bottom of the footpath we turned right into Tottington Mill Wood where there is still evidence of Tottington Print Works alongside Kirklees Brook. The mill was bought by Joshua Knowles in 1820 to undertake calico printing and closed in 1921, when it rapidly became derelict.

Climbing out of the wood we passed the kennels of Holcombe Hunt the formation of which can be traced back to the 11^th Century when the Normans are said to have brought hounds from across the Channel.

 

 

 

 

Passing Brandlesholme Hall Farm we continued along the track, crossing the main road and climbing over a stile on the opposite side of the road that took us into a field which had glorious views over towards Peel Tower. The path eventually joined Wood Road Lane that took us down to the River Irwell, which we followed into Summerseat.

Once on Railway Street we walked up to Robin Lane and headed for Holcombe Brook Valley where we had our coffee break in the warm sunshine, overlooking the brook.

 

 

 

 

 

After a short break we climbed up through the valley onto Woodhey Road and into Holcombe Brook where we walked up the side of the Hare and Hounds into Redisher Wood where we were pleased to see the first signs of the bluebells coming into bloom which will make a glorious sight in a couple of weeks’ time.

The final section of the walk was along Redisher Lane crossing Bolton Road and joining the path which leads back to Greenmount having covered 6 sunny miles.