Friday 1st August 2025.
Come Walking Series: Turton Tower and Cheetham Close
On a dry but overcast evening twenty-seven walkers met at Turton Tower to begin the short, but steep walk up to Cheetham Close. The tower was originally built as a Pele tower in the 1400s and has been extended over the years. In 1682 it was bought by Humphry Chetham, of Chetham’s School of Music and Chetham’s Library, in Manchester. After leaving the tower we joined a section of the West Pennine Way (WPW), first crossing the Victorian Railway Bridge, and then following the track on our right, as far as the kissing gate on the left. We were pleased to see that the herd of cows were not in the field, that we were about to cross.
Victorian Bridge
We then began to climb the steep slope up to the trig point, stopping occasionally to admire the views, behind us, over towards Longshaw Head. The trig point is 325 metres above sea level and has commanding views over the surrounding countryside. There is little evidence of the bronze age stone circle which a local farmer is said to have demolished to stop the Victorian tourists walking over his land.
Climbing up Cheetham Close
The Trig Point
On the decent to Cox Green Road, we had good views over to Winter Hill and Delph Reservoir, before passing Dimple Hall built in the 17th century and extensively extended in the 21st century.
The descent
Following the WPW
Heading for Cox Green Road
When we reached the road we turned left, leaving the WPW route, and headed up to the third footpath on our left that took us up to Whittle Hill Farm, where we turned right, through a wooden gate, and followed the path across the fields to Little Stanrose Farm, which is no longer little. Once through the farm we joined a footpath around Turton Golf Course and headed for Torra Barn. From here it was a short walk back to Turton Tower, having covered a comfortable 4.5 hilly miles.
Torra Barn
I see no ships!