Walk Report

Wednesday February 2nd. Spodden Skyline. 10 mile Plodder Walk. Leader: Mike Lee. Eight walkers met on a decidedly damp and misty morning for the “Spodden Skyline” walk. Starting from the Water Ski Centre we walked the full length of the road bordering Cowm Reservoir then turned onto the old road running back along the reservoir and through the ruins of Cowclough hamlet to ascend the rake up to Hall Fold. From Hall Fold we headed towards Spring Mill Reservoir and descended steeply along its boundary wall to cross Prickshaw Brook before climbing steeply up the Rossendale Way path to the remains of Bagslate Quarry. After a brief drinks stop we walked out of the quarry along the bed of the tramway that used to carry trucks of stone pulled by a narrow gauge steam locomotive. Unfortunately the misty conditions spoiled the views across to the other side of the Spodden Valley. The tramway took us onto a track leading out to Rooley Moor Road and down to the bottom of the moor, where we joined Knacks Lane and followed it downwards through the expensively renovated hamlets of Prickshaw and Broadley. We were now approaching the mid-point of the walk and stopped for lunch at an old mill lodge near the bottom of the valley before crossing the River Spodden where it runs through a spectacular wooded, steep-sided gorge. Our crossing was made easy by using the tall, arched viaduct that once carried the Rochdale to Bacup railway. We had now completed our journey along the West side of the Spodden valley and crossed the main road to climb Ending Rake up to the moor top on the edge of the East side. As we walked along the Pennine Bridleway high above the valley bottom the weather improved enough for us to have clear views across to the West side, including Cowm Reservoir from where we had set out. We continued along the valley side, passing above Whitworth Church, to eventually emerge onto the main road at Facit Church. We were now on the home straight. All we had to do now was to climb the west side of the valley up to the old quarry above and coast down the tarmac road to the Cowm Reservoir and our cars. But this required us to ascend the Facit Incline, once used to lower trucks loaded with stone to the railway along the valley bottom. This is a fairly steep, continuous ascent of some 250 feet providing a sting in the tail of the walk. Thanks to everyone who came Mike Lee

---