Wednesday 11th August 2021
Pilgrims Way Walk: Whalley to Haslingden
This walk is the first of four walks tracing a possible route that Saxon Monks may have taken between Whalley Church and Manchester Cathedral. Greenmount Village Walking Group have been involved in creating this countryside route which is described in detail in the soon to be published book, Pilgrims’ Way from Whalley to Lichfield and the mystery of Pilgrims’ Cross. Produced by Holcombe Moor Heritage Group, watch our website for more details on how to buy a copy.
Fourteen walkers, monks for a day, met outside Whalley Church, which is next to the remains of Whalley Abbey. Once we had turned right onto the high street we made our way over the bridge, that crosses the river Calder, and joined an ancient sunken path that skirts around Whalley Nab. With glorious views of Pendle Hill to our left we headed along tracks and through fields to Great Harwood, where we stopped for coffee in the Memorial Gardens near St Bartholomew’ Church.
Whalley Church
Coffee Stop
Refreshed we walked through Great Harwood and soon joined the tow path alongside the Leeds Liverpool Canal our next stop being St Janes Church at Church Kirk. After admiring the old tower we re-joined the canal tow path we followed our route to Accrington and lunch at Platts Lodge Nature Reserve site of the disused railway line from Ramsbottom.
Lunch time
Heading for Haslingden
Following the track we continued to Rising Bridge crossing the A56 and joining a series of country lanes that pass through Acre and onto Haslingden. Our final destination for the first section of the route, St James Church, having covered 12 penitent miles.