Monday 21st June 2021
Short Circular Walk to Pilgrims Cross
The first of our programme of short walks started with thirteen walkers leaving from Greenmount Old School and heading for Greenmount Golf Course where we turned right and made our way to Redisher Wood. Once over the new stone bridge we turned right and climbed the steep steps out of the valley. At the top we stopped to get our breath back and to admire the view before heading to Hey House, one of the oldest buildings in the area, circa 1616 and onto Moorbotton Road.
Getting our breath back
Turning right over a stile we continued our climb to the summit of Holcombe Hill making our way around Peel Tower and heading across the moor, following the footpath along the edge of Holcombe Valley, thus avoiding the steep climb up Harcles Hill. Coffee stops at Pilgrims Cross is a common feature of our walks and today was no exception although we did not linger as there was a cold wind blowing.
From the cross we followed the footpath back down to Moorbottom Road where we turned left and made our way to the top of The Ridge.
Heading home
At the ruins of High Ridge farm, we turned right heading for the top of Redisher Wood taking the footpath on the right, that avoids the steppingstones, we joined Spenleach Lane at the site of the Krypton Factor. Once on the lane we continued to head back to Greenmount having covered 7 enjoyable miles.
Monday 7th June 2021
Long Walk to Musbury Tor
This was the first walk of our new programme of walks, under the recent covid guidelines set-out by Bury Council Sport and Activitie Services, that allowed up-to 30 walkers per group. Only five walkers joined us on a bright sunny morning to head for the heights of Musbury Tor. Our route took us across the golf course and through the fields to Redisher Wood and onto The Ridge, which was free from mud, the first time this year, due to the prolonged period of dry weather. Once on Moorbottom Road we followed Red Brook up to John Turner’s cave and an early coffee break.
John Turner’s Cave
Refreshed we headed around the back of Bull Hill and joined the waymarked route of the West Pennine Way (WPW), enjoying the views across, towards Helmshore and Haslingden. When we could see Musbury Tor, on our right, we joined a footpath that climbed gently to the summit giving us even more extensive views stretching as far as Pendle Hill in the north. This was a suitable place to eat lunch and plan new routes for future walks.
Musbury Tor
Making a steep descent down the hill we joined the Rossendale Way, that takes a gentler route back towards Holcombe. Eventually we re-joined the WPW and could soon see the familiar sight of Peel Tower. From the tower we headed back to Greenmount, through Redisher Wood having covered 11sunny miles.
Peel Tower