Monday 6th November 2023

Monday 6^th November 2023

Woods around the river Irwell

On a very wet Monday morning, fifteen walkers set out from Greenmount Old School in the hope that the weather would improve. After walking for a short distance up Holcombe Road we turned left into Holhouse Lane and joined a very wet footpath, on our right, that took us through the fields, and onto Bolton Road West, which we crossed and walked along Redisher Lane. At Lower Redisher Farm, we continued down the track into Redisher Wood, where we made a short detour, on our route to view the waterfall, which was in full flow due to the heavy rain, that was still falling.

Following Holcombe Brook, we exited the wood at the Hare & Hounds Pub, and after crossing the road we joined Woodhey Road. Once in Holcombe Woods we headed down the narrow footpath, which was more like a stream. Passing some very impressive waterfalls on our right.

At the bottom of the path, we turned right into Robin Road and walked into Summerseat, where once passed the garden centre we joined a footpath that followed the river Irwell down to Wood Road Lane.

After turning left across the bridge, we climbed up to the East Lancashire railway line and continued up steps to the kissing gate, where we turned right and negotiated a very wet path to Springside Road. Our initial plan was to turn right and follow the footpath along the river Irwell, but due to all the heavy rain we decided this would be too dangerous, so we turned left and headed up to Touch Road.

After turning right into Touch Road, we walked down to the stile into the fields and continued down to Burrs where we stopped to enjoy a well-deserved morning coffee. At this point two of our walkers made a detour to take photographs of the Irwell weir, as the river was in flood.

After coffee we headed up to Brandlesholme and turned left down Garside Hey Road walking as far as the kissing gate on our right, which leads into Kingsbury Wood. At the end of the wood, we turned left onto the track that passes Holcombe Hunt Kennels, and once over the footbridge we headed for Tower Farm, and back to Greenmount having covered 6.5 very wet miles.