Walk 7 - Emerging into a large meadow, proceed throughout the year (and mid-week in Turn right for Greenmount, when passing downhill following the hedge on the right. summer). They arrange all sorts of events Nabb’s House, note the interesting folly ROWLANDS RD from a Real Ale Trail to Steam Experience built in the corner of the garden. Go through the ‘kissing gate’ at the bottom, Days, War Weekends and Santa Specials TO GREENMOUNT turn right over the stream and briefly join John Turner, an eccentric had this ‘castle’ at Christmas. It also an excellent spot the Irwell Sculpture Trail. built as a summer house in 1867. It has to capture steam engines working hard Distance: 2 miles always been known as ‘Images’ as it was The Irwell Sculpture Trail is the longest as they round the bend coming up from About: 2 hours covered in gargoyles, said to represent public art scheme in England that runs Bury. It is difficult to imagine now, that the faces of Greenmount villagers to Terrain: Ascent 174ft descent 200ft along a well-established footpath for 30 years ago every morning around 8.15 the whom he had taken a particular dislike. Parking: Plenty on Rowlands Road. miles between Salford Quays and Bacup London train made the ground tremble, The heads of the gargoyles are hollow and containing 28 art pieces, the work of roaring south, over this very spot. Public transport: in wet weather water dribbles from their both national and international artists. 472, 474 - Bury / Go down the steps and cross the bridge over mouths and ears, but sadly many of them Just south is Burrs Country Park and 473,482,483,484 - Bury /Burnley, Bacup the and follow the asphalt road have been stolen. As you pass it try and Castlestead, the site of a ‘Promontory via Ramsbottom. through the small hamlet of Wood Road. spot just over the wall, the carved stone Fort’ overlooking the Irwell. Archaeological threatening figure of a man ready to hit Refreshments: excavation of the site in 1992 revealed Turn right before the bridge for Summerseat any passer-by with a large stone. Falshaw’s Ice Cream Parlour on that it dates back to the late Iron- Station or for the café at the Garden Centre. Rowland’s Rd Age, having been occupied between 4 Continue past the Cricket Club on the 3 Leaving the hamlet, follow the unsurfaced 200BC and AD250. This means that the left into the centre of the village and the Summerseat Garden Centre Café track uphill until it levels out and at the settlement site continued in use long Toby Carvery (Previously the Bull’s Head) Toby Carvery (Previously the Bull’s Head), sharp left hand bend, go straight ahead over after the Romans had arrived in Britain. opposite Greenmount Old School. Greenmount. the wooden stile alongside the fence on the The site is now a ‘Scheduled Ancient right. Greenmount Village owes its existence to Monument’ in recognition of its national the building of a Sunday school in 1848 in importance. Please note: after prolonged or heavy what was then the outskirts of the village rain this path may be flooded at the far 1 Walk down Rowland’s Road, past 2 Fifty metres along the trail, go left again of Tottington. The founders named it Green end and it may be advisable to continue Falshaw’s Ice Cream Parlour and Nabs Farm through the gate and down to the level Mount Independent Sunday School. People along Wood Road until its junction with and turn first left down the track to Chest crossing and cross over the East living nearby included Green Mount in Brandlesholme Rd and turn right and then Wheel Farm. Railway track. their postal address and this gradually first left up to Greenmount instead. extended to the surrounding area and soon Just before the farmhouse, turn left through This East Lancashire Railway opened If you look backwards whilst on this stretch, it became a village. The original Sunday the ‘kissing gate’ and follow the path around in1846 to serve local communities, to the hills in the distance, you will note school is now the community centre the front of the house. but closed to passenger traffic in 1972 a distinct notch or vee above Walmersley owned by the church and now called and commercial traffic in 1980. A which is a classic example of a glacial Greenmount Old School. spirited campaign restored the Bury to overflow channel. Ramsbottom line and it reopened in 1987. Since then this heritage line, now At the next stile turn right to join Longsight Public transport: carrying 120,000 passengers a year, has Road. 480, 481 - Bury via Walshaw & Tottington. been extended twice to now run between Cross Longsight Road on to the footpath 480 - Bolton via Hawkshaw & Affetside. Heywood and . Dipper in the field directly opposite, cross the 478 - Bury & Ramsbottom. It is run by volunteer members of the East wooden footbridge halfway across the Refreshments: Lancashire Railway Preservation Society field (note the ‘kissing gate’ at the end of Toby Carvery (Previously the Bull’s Head) every weekend and bank holiday the footbridge is rather a tight fit for the fuller figure) and then bearing slightly left

go straight on to join Brandlesholme Rd. Walk Author Christine Taylor of Greenmount WALK 7 - ROWLANDS ROAD TO GREENMOUNT

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Island Lodge