Walk report for 15 January 2024
15 walkers met at Nuttall Park Ramsbottom for the first long walk of 2024.
It was a very cold but bright morning as we set off from the Park walking through Ramsbottom and up to the Old Mill Hotel on Spring Wood Street. From here we followed an unmade Lane past the Tentering Tower. The tower was built in 1866 and stands on a hillside above the former Stubbins Vale Mill. It was used to stretch out newly made cloth to allow it to dry. The building is in good condition having been repaired and preserved by the National Trust.
The Old Mill
Tentering Tower
We continued along the Lane to Stubbins and then picked up a trail on the old Bury to Accrington railway line. We took a path to the right just before the magnificent Lumb Viaduct which has been restored in recent years. This path took us through the village of Irwell Vale and to the railway station on the East Lancashire Heritage Railway. Here we had a short and very pleasant break in the winter sunshine. This station is fairly new having only opened in 1991 as an extra stop on the line.
Lumb Bridge
The River Irrwell
After the break, we walked up to an area called ‘The Plunge’ in Edenfield. We paused here for a few minutes to admire the waterfall and the bright sunlight glistening through the trees. From here we made our way to the Duckworth Arms where we had a very enjoyable lunch.
Coffee stop at Irwell Vale
Heading to the Plunge
The Plunge
After lunch, the walk took us back to Stubbins where we followed the River Irwell back to Ramsbottom and then along Nuttall Lane to Nuttall Park.
Heading for lunch
The Duckworth Arms
The walk finished at 14:10. A distance of 9.5 miles covered.