Monday 8th April 2024
Greenmount to Peel Tower.
On a very wet and cloudy morning eighteen walkers set out from Greenmount Old School to complete the monthly short walk. We began by heading for the golf course and making our way to Holhouse Farm, where we joined the footpath leading to Bolton Road. Once on the road we turned left, in the direction of Hawkshaw, and walked as far as the access road to Loe Farm, which we turned into and headed through the very muddy fields up to Hollingrove Farm, on Redisher Lane.
Heading for Redisher Lane
After turning left on the lane, we walked up to Simons Farm where we turned left through a kissing gate, and headed in the direction of the assault course, which is part of the Rifle Range. The course was used between 1977 and 1995 for the television program, The Krypton Factor, hosted by Gordon Burns. The route then turned right and descended a steep path down into the valley.
Heading for the Rifle Range
Once across the footbridge, over Red Brook, we climbed up to the ruins of High Ridge Farm and after getting our breath back we descended into the valley below. The climb out of this valley was even steeper and at the top we turned right and followed the footpath for a short distance before turning left over a stile and onto Moorbottom Road.
Footbridge over Red Brook
Ruins of High Ridge Farm
Bottom of the valley
After tuning left, we walked as far as the route of The West Pennine Way, which we joined and followed it onto Holcombe Moor and eventually to Peel Tower, which was shrouded in mist.
Holcombe Moor
Heading for the tower
Spot the tower in the mist
Taking shelter, from the wind we stopped at the tower for our morning coffee break before descending the hill and heading back to Greenmount having covered 6.5 wet and misty miles.