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 11th 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.
MONDAY 11th MARCH 2019
Monthly Short Walk: Greenmount, Hawkshaw, Holcombe Valley and Greenmount
The walk started on a bright chilly morning with the remains of last night’s hailstones still on the ground. Fifteen walkers set off from the Old School and headed across the golf course to Holly Mount where we joined a section of the West Pennine Way (WPW) footpath. Once at the orchard we stopped for a short time to look at the spring flower planted in memory of Gordon one of our walking colleagues and also to admire the new bird feeder recently erected in the orchard.
Continuing along the WPW footpath we dropped down into Two Brooks Valley and headed in the direction of Hawkshaw. On reaching the ladder stile rather that going over it we turned right and climbed out of the valley to Sunny Top where we crossed the main road and turned left onto a sign posted footpath that took us up to New Hoyles Farm.
Once on Hawkshaw Lane we turned right for a short distance before turning right at High House Farm and joining a very muddy footpath which lead to the MOD’s Range House. At the side of the Range House was a new MOD notice that suggested that access over Bull Hill was to be out of bounds for walkers at all-times even though it is clearly shown on OS maps as a path and has been used as such many years.
Having been depressed by the new notice we headed for Simon’s Farm and down into Redisher Wood making our way along the side of Simon’s Lodge. At the end of the lodge we stopped for a welcome coffee break before heading to Holcombe Brook. Once across the very busy road we followed the brook down through the valley into Summerseat and Robin Lane where we turned right and then left into Hazel Hall Lane. At the end of the lane we were surprised to see that the car park, at the tennis club, was full of large vehicles belonging to a film company that was filming in the centre of Bury.
After crossing Longsight Road, we headed through the fields back to Greenmount having covered 7 informative miles.