MONDAY 9th MARCH 2020
Monthly Short Walk: Wood and Moorland Walk
Heading towards Spenleach Lane
On a cloudy morning twelve walkers set off from Greenmount Old School with a forecast of dry weather until lunchtime. We made our way across the golf course and on to Whipney Lane taking the very muddy footpath past the duck enclosure. Once over the stile we walke through the fields to Bolton Road, which we crossed and turned right into Spenleach Lane where we could see that preparations were being made for the start of the lambing season, a sure sign of spring.
Frogspawn
At the top of the lane we took the narrow path, on our right, and headed towards the Range House where we turned right when we joined the tarmacked driveway. Again there were more signs of spring with the first sight of frogspawn in the roadside ditch.
Crossing the brook
From this point the group split into two with half of us heading past Symon’s Farm and crossing the brook over the stepping stops and the other half choosing to go over the brook using the bridge.
Praying at the cross
The two groups met-up on The Ridge where we turned left and headed up to Moorbottom Road, where we paused before taking the steep footpath on our right that climbs up to Pilgrim’s Cross and our morning coffee break.
Heading back to the tower
Once refreshed we headed back over Holcombe Moor, in the direction of Peel Tower, first climbing over White Hill and then Hercules Hill, with their cairns on the summits, before making the steep descent on route to the tower.
Heading home
From the tower we made our way down the track in the direction of Holcombe Brook, turning right after a short distance and taking a steep footpath down to Moorbottom Road with clear views over Greater Manchester along the way.
Eventually we joined the slippery cobbles on Holcombe Old Road and headed down to the Hare & Hounds pub and home. By the time we reached Greenmount we had covered 7 soggy miles but we had managed to get back before the start of the rain.