The first of five walks, from the West Pennine Way to the Pennine Way, starting at Bull Hill.
Eighteen walkers set out from Greenmount on a glorious autumn morning and headed across the fields to Redisher Lane. After turning left on the lane, we soon arrived at the site of the new footpath, that has been built after many complaints have been made by our walking group. The new footpath made the decent into the valley much easier and safer and once on the footbridge we were able to enjoy the autumn colours in the wood. We then climbed out of the valley onto The Ridge where we turned left and walked up to Moor Road, where after a short distance we began the climb onto Holcombe Moor.
The new footpath at Hollinshead Farm
Holcombe Moor
Once on the moor we headed for our morning coffee stop at John Turner’s Cave. John Turner was a local landowner who built the cave as shelter for him and his gamekeeper when hunting on the moors. From the cave we made our final climb up the trig point on Bull Hill, where the waymarked route to The Pennine Way begins.
John Turner’s Cave
I see no ships from Bull Hill
Following the route down to Robin Hood’s Well we passed the memorial to Eelen Strange The traditional story of Ellen Strange, was that she lived at Ash Farm Hawkshaw, met a travelling pedlar at Haslingden Fair and on the way home he murdered her here on the moorland. However, it has since been discovered that in fact, Ellen Broadley (nee Strange) was probably murdered by her husband John Broadley in January 1761. An inquest was held, but a judge acquitted John Broadley of murder through lack of evidence.
Robin Hood’s Well
All smiles
From the well we continued down through the fields into Lumb where we crossed over the bridge, spanning the River Irwell. Once over the bridge we turned right and followed the route out of the valley into Edenfield, which was the end of the first section of the Link Route.
Heading down to Lumb
Lumb viaduct
River Irwell
By now it was lunch time, so we made use of the benches in the Parish Church grounds to eat our meal in glorious sunshine. After lunch we headed down into Ramsbottom and through Summerseat back to Greenmount, having covered eleven glorious miles.
Lunch stop