Monday 7th October 2024
Monthly Short Walk, East of the M66.
Twenty one walkers started out from Greenmount on a dull but mild morning and headed down Brandlesholme Road, to the first footpath sign on our left. Once through the stile we walked across the damp fields and crossed Longsight Road, where we joined the first of the muddy paths and continued down Wood Road Lane to the bridge over the River Irwell. Once across the bridge we climbed the steep steps up to the stile, where we turned right and walked over a small footbridge before turning left and walking through fields onto Rowlands Road.
Once across Walmersley Road, we continued to follow a footpath that climbed up to a stile leading onto Walmersley Old Road. After climbing over the stile, we turned left and made our way over the bridge, which crosses the M66, and continued to walk along the cobbled road for a short distance before turning right and heading down to Long Croft House.
At the side of the house is a fight of steps, which we carefully descended and crossed over a footbridge, before climbing up to Bentley Road. After turning left and walking for a short distance we turned right and headed up to a stile, on our right. Once through the stile we encountered a herd of cow which fortunately ignored us, and we rewarded our bravery with our morning coffee stop before walking down to Cob House Farm.
Our return journey back to the west of the M66 took us around the edge of Walmersley Golf Course and through a dark to tunnel, under the M66, into Limefield.
Once across the main road we headed down Springside Road and back into Summerseat. After recrossing the bridge, over the River Irwell, we followed the river into the village and then made our way back to Greenmount having covered seven energetic miles.