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.