MONDAY 9th SEPTEMBER
EDGWORTH CIRCULAR
Although it had rained hard all night and the morning started off wet, 19 walkers turned up for the walk to Edgworth via the Broadhead Valley.
Our route took us past the Army Camp, Withins and Holcombe Hey Fold Farms, then up the very steep path and past the ruins of Lark Hill farm onto Moorbottom road. Here we turned left and shortly past Longshaw Head which was once a farm, now converted into 2 houses with 2 more being built. The name Longshaw Head is recorded in a 12th Century charter.
We continued past the entrance to the ‘Maggot’ Farm, now disused and in ruins, before turning right along a track and then left over a stile towards Edgworth Moor Farm, where we found the way blocked with a barbed wire fence, which we went under and then machinery which we had to clamber past, before passing in front of the property onto Broadhead Road.
Crossing the road we followed the footpath to Orrell Cote Farm, stopping half way down on Stanley Hill to have a quick coffee break as the north westerly wind was so cold, but at least the rain had stopped.
We then turned left down and made our way to past Bisley Moor Side Farm, before having had to negotiate an overgrown hedge blocking the footpath to Moor Side Farm. The way was no better to the next hamlet called Hill Top , since doing the recci a tree had fallen down and Sue’s secateurs were much in use. Then through a small field we went down a track and were hoping to cross a field onto the Darwen Road, only to find a herd of black cows and calves blocking our way, as they were bellowing at us we made a quick retreat back to the track and down to the main road. From here we went past some very old cottages, thena newish estate to Edgworth Cricket Pavilion where we had our lunch.
We do appreciate that the cricket club allow people to use their covered area providing there is not a match or other event taking place.
We returned to Greenmount through the woods behind the Barlow, past Pallet farm and over Top of Quarlton before going through New Hoyles, Croichley Fold and the Golf Course.