Friday 30th August 2024

Friday 30^th August 2024

Come Walking Series of Walks – Greenmount to Affetside

The penultimate walk of this series began on a bright and sunny evening from behind Greenmount Church. Twenty-four walkers headed down Hayfield Close to Greenmount Golf Club and once on Whipney Lane we turned right through a metal gate and joined the footpath on the left leading to open fields. After crossing the fields into the hamlet of Croichley Fold we turned left and descended the steep slop into Two Brooks Valley, where we turned right and followed the stream to the ladder stile. Once over the stile we turned left and started the climb to Turton Road, which we crossed, and continued to climb along a narrow footpath to the village of Affetside.

Once in the village we turned right and walked to the centre of the village, to where the ancient cross is situated, alongside Watling Street, which was part of a Roman Road leading from Manchester to Ribchester. The cross is a Grade II listed structures, the exact age of it is not known, but it is thought it marked the halfway point between London and Edinburgh.

After spending time admiring the village, we headed down Watling Street as far as Mum’s Harris Farm, where we turned left and followed the route of the West Pennine Way to Windmill Farm.

Once through the farm we turned left and headed along a footpath that ran parallel with Turton Road, at the end of the path we turned right and crossed the road. We then joined a path on the opposite side of the road that took us back down into Two Brooks Valley. The footpath was blocked by fallen trees when we recced the walk but has kindly been cleared by the local footpath officer.