FRIDAY 9th AUGUST 2019
Walk 13 0f the Come Walking Series of Walks: Nuttall Park, Grants Tower and Summerseat
Climbing up to Grant’s Tower
Due to the unseasonal weather and threat of thunder storms it was decided to change the route of tonight’s walk. Thirteen brave souls set out from Nuttall Park and turned right into Nuttall Hall Road where we walked for a short distance before crossing a small footbridge on our left and climbing the steep steps known locally as Jacob’s Ladder. Safely at the top of the steps we crossed the metal footbridge over the Edenfield By-pass (M66) and headed up to Manchester Road, through very wet fields. After crossing the road, we turned left onto a track leading up to Top o ‘th’ Hoof Farm and continued to climb through the fields up to Grant’s Tower.
Grant’s Tower as it was
Grants Tower was built in 1829 by the Grant brothers, who it is said Charles Dickens modelled the Cheeryble Brothers, in Nicholas Nickleby. They built the tower in memory of their father and who brought them from Scotland to seek their fortune in Ramsbottom. The tower collapsed in 1944 and is been renovated by the present owner of Top o ‘th’ Hoof Farm.
Grants Tower today
From the tower we made our way to Bury Old Road and headed along the cobbled road in the direction of Nangreaves Fortunately, by this time the clouds had started to lift and we had clear views looking back over Holcombe Hill and to our left the sun shining on the high builds in Manchester.
Stag
We were also fortunate to see, in the field at the side of the road, a large stag with beautiful antlers and a doe deer but by the time we turned into the fields they had disappeared into the trees.
At the bottom of the field we walked through the farm yard of Bast House before re-crossing Manchester Road and turned right into Bass Lane. After a short distance we turned left onto a footpath leading to Rowlands Road, turning right we walked as far as the church before we turned left on a path that took us to Brooksbottoms cricket pitch.
Crossing the lines
Once across the pitch we joined a path down to East Lancashire Railway line which we crossed and climbed down the steps into Summerseat and crossed over Wood Road bridge spanning the River Irwell. The river looked quite menacing after the heavy rain as we walked along its banks towards Railway Street.
Wild beasts in Summerseat
Our final section of the walk was along Robin Road past Al Bosco Italian restaurant and through the woods back to Nuttall Park having cover 5 surprisingly dry miles.