Monday 3rd July 2023
Monthly Short Walk: Redisher Wood, the Ridge and Pilgrim’s Cross
On a very cold and overcast morning eleven walkers set out from Greenmount with the faint hope that the weather might improve, which it didn’t. We headed along the familiar paths to Redisher Wood, turning right once over the bridge and climbing up the steep steps and following the footpath to the new bridge over the stream. Instead of climbing the remainder of the steps we turned left and followed the attractive path that goes through the valley below the Ridge. Once at the kissing gate we climbed the steep slope up to the ruins of Taylor’s Farm, on Moorbottom Road.
After turning left, along the track, we joined a less familiar footpath, on our right that climbed up onto Holcombe Moor where we headed for Pilgrim’s Cross. By now there was a strong cold wind blowing and heavy rain but we managed to take shelter at the cross for a very short coffee stop.
We then made our way along the newly laid stone slabs that formed a dry footpath, most of the way to Harcles Hill, which we descended and headed for Peel Tower.
From the tower we made our way back down into Redisher Wood and back to Greenmount, having covered six very cold and wet miles, but feeling all the better for it.