Wednesday 19th March 2025

Wednesday 19th March 2025

Hog Lowe Pike and Views of Musbury Tor.

Twelve walkers turned out on a beautiful spring day for our walk to Musbury Heights, Hog Low Pike and Tor Quarry.

We set off from Helmshore Textile Museum car park and made our way along Musbury Brook and to the abandoned Musbury Heights quarry. At the quarry we turned left and followed the footpath along the edge of the hill with great views of the Calf Hey, Ogden and Holden Wood reservoirs.

We continued left slightly and up to Hog Low Pike a trig point 383 metres above sea level with good views of Winter Hill and Jubilee Tower at Darwen. It was windy at the top, but we managed to find a sheltered spot in the sunshine for our tea and coffee break. Whilst there Brian acknowledged one of our former walkers David Wilson who sadly passed away last year. David was a regular walker with our group and always enjoyed the hikes in this area.

We descended from the pike and made our way to the opposite side of the valley crossing the busy Grane Road. We passed the operational Jamestone Quarry and had our lunch at the old Troy Quarry. The quarry ceased operations many years old and we could see how nature was beginning to reclaim everything.

After lunch we took a path alongside the hill passing several gorse bushes which were beginning to display their bright yellow blossom. We eventually reached Mary’s Wood which was planted between 1990 and 2004 in memory of Mary Donovan Hodbod a local farmer at Holden Hall Farm.

From Mary’s Wood we descended to and crossed the Grane Road again and picked up a trail along the old Ramsbottom to Accrington Railway. The railway opened in 1876 and was closed in 1966 as part of the Beeching cuts. Thankfully much of the old line has been put to good use and converted into a popular walking and cycling route. We followed the line for about 1 mile until we reached the textile museum and the end of the walk.

Distance covered 10.5 miles.