After the Walk June 2026
Sunday June 28th. GM Ringway 1 & 20. 18 miles. Leaders: Steve and Noreen Martin.
Twenty members started off at 9am at Sale Water Park on a dry, warm day with a slight welcoming breeze.
We started the trail around the Water Park watching water-skiers creating wakes for the ducks to bob up and down on. We followed the path around and joined the Bridgewater Canal to Man United home stadium, Old Trafford, passing under and over roads and railway lines on the way. We then had to cross the busy A5087 to Salford Quays and Media City. We stopped briefly at the Blue Peter garden where we took a group photo.
Leaving Salford Quays, a short walk brought us to Ordsall Park where we took a break before heading onto Ordsall Hall, an oasis amongst a fairly recent housing development. Unfortunately it was closed when we arrive so couldn’t take advantage to the cafe and toilets. It was then down to Pomona Docks and into the City Centre were we broke for lunch at St John’s Gardens. The trail took us further into the city centre, passed interesting churches, a cathedral and memorials before a u-turn headed us down Deans Gate passed Central Library and Exhibition Centre.
After a few twists and turns and teased by many watering holes, we were back on the Bridge Water Canal. Leaving the canal behind, we passed the front of Old Trafford football and cricket grounds and into Longford Park. Here, we took a welcome break for coffee, ice creams and toilets. It was then into the Mersey Forest at Charlton Ees ad Ivy Green Nature reserve, back to the start. The group stayed together throughout thanks to the work of our back marker; all finished at 15.45hrs.
A very interesting walk with a variety of scenery, from countryside to the hustle and bustle of a vibrant city. This walk was an exception to the norm but very, very enjoyable.
Stephen and Noreen Martin
Walk leaders
Thanks to Caz and Nancy for the pictures.
Wednesday June 24th. Preston South End. 14 miles. Leader: Nick Halford.
Eight brave folk met at Hurst Grange park for what we knew would be a day of relentless sun and heat.
We went through Middleforth to cross the Ribble by the old East Lancs railway bridge for an early break in beautiful Avenham park. Then the first new stuff, the replacement Tram bridge, originally built as a tramway for goods between two canals, the Leeds/Liverpool and the Preston/Kendal, condemned seven years ago, and the replacement just opened. That took us back to the south side of the river which we followed through Walton-le-dale and many fields to cross again, staying on the river bank until lunch at the floating Brockholes visitor centre. Fish and deer spotting there, with ice cream.
We left the centre through Boilton wood and around the perimeter of the reserve back to the river, and downstream partly along the guild wheel but sticking more to the river bank at times.
Then the rest of the new stuff, £35 millions worth of flood defences recently completed, after four years work, now in place to save yours truly, and others, from the river flooding. We crossed the river for the last time by Penwortham old bridge and back to the start. Much wildlife was seen in the day, deer, kingfishers, herons, egrets, sand martins, lapwings and perch a swimming. It wasn’t an easy day in the heat, but a good one nonetheless.
Nick
Sunday June 21st Ramsbottom Round & Peel Tower Charity Day. 20 miles. Leader: Stephen Hindley.
Four walkers met for the annual Ramsbottom Round with an afternoon stop at Peel Tower for homemade cake & drinks in support of three charities, MND, MS Society & Prostate Cancer
After the steady climb up Knowl Hill & onto Scout Moor, which was surprisingly quiet considering the good weather, we had our morning break. Passing Waugh’s Well & Cowpe Lowe we then descended down to Irwell Vale & our lunch stop in some welcome shade from the sun
We now had the climb up onto Holcombe Moor & our afternoon break at the tower. After our refreshments it was down through Redisher Wood & back to Nuttall Park
Thanks all
Stephen
Click on the link below to see Howard's photos.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/85hNQgBZpSfgbTi39
Sunday June 21st. Peel Tower Charity Plodder. 8 miles. Leader: Mike Lee
Four people met at the Helmshore Museum car park on warm, sunny morning for the Plodder walk to the charity event at the Peel Tower.
We left the museum along the disused Ramsbottom to Accrington railway line and turned up through Sunnybank to start our climb up to Robin Hood’s Well and then on to the Ellen Strange memorial.
This marks where Ellen Strange’s murdered body was found in 1761. The murder became a cause celebre and many lurid accounts were circulated, often sung as ballads in pubs. The memorial stone was erected in the 1970s after the leader of a local theatre group thought she should have a memorial and obtained a grant to fund it.
We then headed for the Peel Tower, via Pilgrims Cross, arriving for lunch at the stroke of noon. Our lunch stop was leisurely, giving us time to chat to friends, sample the homemade cakes, enjoy the views and sit in the sun.
After lunch we descended steeply through Buckden Wood to the path along the disused railway line and followed it back to Helmshore.
Thanks to those who came.
Mike Lee
Wednesday June 10th. Reservoirs of Rivington. 12 miles. Leader: Andrea Foster.
14 hardy souls (undeterred by the heavy downpour first thing) set off from Knowle house car park. We crossed Rivington lane and up the steep path towards Higher Derbyshire's and followed the wide tree lined path, then back across Rivington lane to the Great house barn. After a quick pit stop we took the footpath running parallel with Lower Rivington Reservoir. Opposite the Rivington pub and bowling green we crossed the road and followed the path alongside Upper Rivington Reservoir and in-between Yarrow Reservoir. Then walking briefly along Knowsley Lane we picked up the track to skirt alongside Anglezarke Reservoir. Thankfully by this stage our waterproofs were no longer needed and blue skies appeared.
Pausing at an information board about the Reservoirs we stopped for a little bit of history about the chief civil engineer and architect Thomas Hawksley who created the reservoirs of Rivington and the hard work of the migrant navvies who built them between 1850 and 1857 to supply the growing city of Liverpool with clean filtered drinking water.
Continuing along our route and now overlooking Anglezarke Reservoir we stopped briefly to admire the view over the clear blue water. We then continued, following the path alongside the Goit and onto White Coppice for lunch stop with benches for us all circling the cricket grounds.
There were some good wildlife spots along the way: a wild hare, a deer, an oyster catcher and a kestrel.
After lunch it was a straightforward return trip looping around the opposite side of the same reservoirs via the woods at Healey Nab. We passed the two road bridges each of which have monuments for the Navvies who built the reservoirs and to the engineer Thomas Hawksley for which we paid homage.
In-between the two road bridges is a section of road called "the Street" and a large manor house also called "the Street". Here we paused for another little bit of history specifically about the life of Mary Tetlow Walker who once lived here. For those who want to read more, an interesting article has been written by Tom McGrath about the family "Strete" and it's descendants dating back to the 13th century who once lived here and all those who came after. See link.
https://ifthosewallscouldtalk.wordpress.com/2018/12/24/hidden-histories-the-street-heath-charnock-rivington/
So then crossing the bridge at Horrobin lane we managed to resist the temptation of a pint and continued past the Bowling green and followed the path running parallel to lower Rivington Reservoir onto Liverpool Castle. Lastly picking up the wide tree lined path we returned to the cars.
A big thank you to all who joined me today for your fabulous company and conversation.
Andrea
Wednesday June 3rd. Tolkein Territory. 12 miles. Leader: Barbara Shelton.
It was always going to be a soggy one, given the forecast (and the long grass to wade through!), but ten hardy souls, including two Hundred completers, set off on the 12 mile route from Hurst Green.
Initially we enjoyed riverside scenery as we followed the Hodder, passing the confluences of the Calder and the Ribble, before taking our first break near Winckley Hall, on some convenient logs. Then we crossed the Hodder at Lower Hodder Bridge and headed for Higher Hodder Bridge via Angerham and some obscure, overgrown footpaths to avoid a collapsing footpath above the river on the opposite bank. There was great excitement when several of us were involved in some sheep-wrangling, as we’d spotted two sturdy lambs with their heads firmly stuck in some wire fencing. They were duly freed, with much jubilation from us and their mothers!
The main ascent of the day came next with the long slog up Birdy Brow and a forestry track before stopping for lunch in the shelter of some conifers, once again on some felled logs. More ascent took us up onto Longridge Fell along a well defined track until we dropped down towards Hurst Green via Stonyhurst Park golf club and the impressive old buildings of Stonyhurst College. J.R.R. Tolkien spent time there due to his eldest son studying for the priesthood at the college, and later, another son taught there. It was during this time that he wrote the follow up to The Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings, was inspired by the countryside around the area, and incorporated place names etc into his stories: Middle Earth is said to have been inspired by the area.
It was generally agreed it had been quite a challenging route, with some tricky paths people hadn’t used before, but at least it hadn’t rained all the time!!
Barbara Shelton
