Wednesday 23rd March 2022

Wednesday 23rd March 2022

First of 5 circular walks to complete the Link Route to the Pennine Way

On a gloriously sunny morning, with a forecast for it to continue all day, fifteen walkers gathered at Ramsbottom Railway Station to complete the first of five walks that will trace the Link Route from Bull Hill, to the section of the Pennine Way near to Warland Reservoir, West Yorkshire. We started the walk by heading up Bridge Street and into Carr Street before joining a very steep footpath, just after the Rose and Crown Inn, that climbs through an attractive valley up to Helmshore Road.

Climb through Carr Woods

After crossing the road, we continued to climb up over Harcles Hill and over the moors to Pilgrim’s Cross from where we joined the path up to Bull Hill and the start of the Link Route, that is way-marked from here on.

Pilgrim’s Cross

Bull Hill

The first part of the route, thankfully, is a decent to Robbin Hood’s Well, where we once again enjoyed our morning coffee whilst enjoying the views across to Scout Moor. Once refreshed we headed down the fields to the small Village of Lumb, where we were greeted by a beautiful display of spring bulbs.

Coffee at Robin Hood’s Well

Decent to Lumb

The route then crosses the River Irwell turning right once over the bridge, and continuing through the tunnel, under the ELR railway line, where we then started the steep climb, out of the valley, and up to Edenfield.

Climbing out of valley

Edenfield

Having noted the last way-marker of the section of the route and the starting point of the next walk we headed back down to Irwell Vale where we enjoyed lunch on the railway platform. After lunch we walked back through the picturesque village and followed the river back to Lumb where we joined the track leading to Strongstry and on through Stubbins back to our starting point at Ramsbottom, having covered 8.5 very sunny miles.

Heading for Stubbins

Ramsbottom