Wednesday 24th January 2024

Wednesday 24^th January 2024

A walk through local Nature Reserves:

Kirklees Valley, Burrs Country Park, Chesham Woods, Birtle and Summerseat.

On a bright but chilly morning fifteen walkers headed down Kirklees Trail to Tower Farm and followed the brook as far as the first footbridge, which we crossed, and followed the track to Kingsbury Wood. Once through the wood we turned left on Garside Hey Road and made our way into Brandlesholme. After crossing the main road, we joined a muddy footpath down into Burrs Country Park, but not before having to negotiate a fallen tree on the path.

Avoiding the temptation of the warmth of the Lamppost Café we joined the footpath in front of the Brown Cow Pub, where we passed under the railway bridge and continued along the path to the steps up to Arley Avenue, where we turned right and walked up to Walmersley Road. Once across the road we headed up Mosley Avenue to the Lido, where we enjoyed our morning break along with a variety of wildlife.

Our route then took us into Chesham Wood and onto Chesham Road, where we turned left and walked to Broomses Farm, and to the junction with Castle Hill Road. After turning right, we walked down the road to the driveway of Robinsons Equestrian Centre, the one with the stone pig, and continued through the farm to the top of Birtle Road, and the site of the once famous Normandy Restaurant.

We then turned left and followed the track to the edge of the valley, where we could look down at the ruins of Cheesden Mill, last remaining chimney of the fifteen mills in Cheesden Valley and Birtle Deen. Once through the stile, at the top of the valley, we joined a farm track, called Scotland Road, and walked back down to Castle Hill Road, where we climbed over a stile, at the edge of Walmersley Golf Couse, and walked down to White Carr Lane.

Following the lane, we walked down into Baldingstone and through the woods to Falshaws Farm Shop and Café, where we had booked lunch. After a most enjoyable lunch we headed down Rowlands Road, through Summerseat and back to Greenmount having covered eleven refreshing miles.