Musbury Heights and Helmshore Stunning Scenery and Fantastic Views Await You on This Helmshore-Based Route

5 Musbury Heights and Helmshore Stunning scenery and fantastic views await you on this Helmshore-based route.

David Turner LANCASHIRE WALKS MUSBURY HEIGHTS AND HELMSHORE

A four and a half mile route, which starts from the Helmshore is a village in the first dedicated cotton mill and reservoirs were built in the 19th Blackburn bus station and quiet village of Helmshore and takes the walker over Rossendale Valley, south of was located immediately below century, Haslingden Grane had a nearby Rawtenstall bus station, moorland, through valleys and over hilltops, before Haslingden. The village sits where Alden Farm stands today. population of around 1,300 and which is on Bacup Road. The The walker’s view skirting nearby Holden Wood Reservoir. beside and includes the old the remains of some buildings East Lancashire Railway also township of Musbury, part Industry expanded as time went can still be seen. runs between Rawtenstall, Bury David Turner discovers Helmshore Due to the terrain and number of hills and stiles of Haslingden and part of on and larger mills were built in and Heywood, but this service with this route encountered, we can’t class this as an accessible walk. Tottington Higher End. Helmshore, closer to the railway, doesn’t run at all times during I’ve covered some great walks around Dogs are permitted, but must be kept under control, roads and the housing where Getting there the week, so it’s best to check Lancashire over the last few months but especially in areas with ground nesting birds. The name ‘Helmshore’ is said to the workers lived, making these before you travel via the East If you’re looking to travel to this particular route, which takes in the hills and valleys around mean ‘shelter on the steep slope’ mills much more practical than Lancashire Railway website – Parking is available at the beginning of the route at Helmshore via public transport, Helmshore, stands out as one of my favourites. Perhaps it was the and the spectacular, flat-topped the outlying smaller ones. By the www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, plus there’s a café if there are regular buses from particularly good weather that put a smile on my face - or perhaps Musbury Tor dominates the latter half of the 19th century, it was the big views and variety of wildlife that I passed along the you fancy something to eat or drink while you’re there. area. At 338 metres, it is one of the small mills had disappeared way that did the trick. the tallest hills in the Rossendale and a focus on farming returned Valley and was once at the to the valley, while Helmshore The route from Helmshore Mills soon rises up to meet a section centre of a deer park, created in became a mill workers Where to visit of the Rossendale Way, a 41-mile high-level route around the the 1300s by the Earl of Lincoln. settlement, with woollen and Helmshore Mills Textile Museum Rossendale Valley. There’s a sense of anticipation as you make your way along the path between High Moss and Green Height. Holcombe Road, Helmshore, Lancashire, BB4 4NP The route you’re to take can be seen to disappear around Burnt Situated at the beginning of the route, Helmshore Mills Textile Hill to the left, before Museum is the perfect place to pop into while you’re in the area. emerging on the other side of the valley and following the hillside all the way along to Musbury Heights. Lapwing called and circled overhead as I made my way towards the valley path. These are ground nesting

visitlancashire.com birds and although I didn’t spot a nest, it’s likely that there was one nearby; it’s certainly the right time of year. Make sure to keep dogs on a lead around this section so as not to disturb the birds. You can explore the true story of the Lancashire textile industry, from the 18th century right up to the present day, through live Buzzards and wheatear made an appearance on the section around demonstrations of the original working machinery and the various Musden Head and the hot sun brought the butterflies out in force. textile treasures on display from famous inventors. There are quite a few tumbledown stone and slate structures along the valley path and they’re ideal for providing a low wall, where There’s also a chance to follow the story of Lancashire’s unique role in you can rest your legs for a few minutes and take it the view. Either side of the Tor are two cotton mills and workers housing the industrial revolution, through the revolution gallery, and you can valleys; Musbury Valley to the along the River Ogden. discover how raw wool and cotton were transformed into yarn ready I can’t imagine this particular route is much of a secret, but north west and Alden Valley in to be woven into cloth. despite the fine weather I the south west. On the north west side of didn’t see a single person Musbury Valley is Musbury There’s a changing programme of events, activities, demonstrations, between leaving the road at The area was thinly populated Heights, which was once a talks, workshops and children’s holiday activities too, which will keep Helmshore, and descending until the Industrial Revolution, quarry but is now disused. The all the family entertained. the hillside path to Holden which transformed the whole ruins of several structures remain After you’ve soaked in the atmosphere of these majestic mills, why Wood Reservoir at the tail of East Lancashire into a hub for here, including a chimney, spoil not visit the museum café and shop, where you can relax and enjoy end of the walk. I’m looking textiles. Small mills were built on heaps and old workings. The wholesome Lancashire food with an up-to-date twist. The shop offers forward to walking more the river valleys, with a number area is popular with walkers and traditional and contemporary gifts for all ages, focusing on Lancashire- of the Rossendale Way appearing in Alden Valley in is an ideal starting point for a made crafts and products. in the near future and if particular. At the end of the 18th walk to the nearby Grane Valley. this particular section is century, Midge Hole Mill and Helmshore Mills Textile Museum is open seven days a week, from 12pm to 4pm Monday to Friday and 12pm to 5pm Saturday and anything to go by, I’m in for Sunnybank Mill were built and This walk also skims Holden a treat. by the 1830s, there was also Wood Reservoir, one of the Sunday. The café and shop are both open from 11am. Entry is £4 for adults, £3 for concessions, with no charge for David Turner a small bleach works – Alden three reservoirs found in Old Mill – at the head of the Haslingden Grane, along with accompanied children. valley, as well as the additions of Calf Hey Reservoir and Ogden Clough, Higher and Lower Alden Reservoir. Before the Mills. Higher Alden was the

78 Lancashire Walks and Wildlife While you are there! Cut out this page and 5 Musbury Heights and Helmshore take with you... HOLCOMBE ROAD, HELMSHORE, LANCASHIRE, BB4 4NP Enjoy stunning scenery and fantastic views on this four Snig Hole Park and a half mile, Helmshore-based walk. Please ensure that all dogs are kept under control on this If you want to really make a day of it, why not head to route, especially at this time of year. Helmshore Community Park, popularly known as Snig Hole Park. The park isn’t far from the beginning of this route and is The recently renovated ideally positioned for popping into on the way home or even self-catering cottage at Cronkshaw before you head out on this walk. Fold Farm combines family friendly accommodation with family activity The park dates back to 1922 and was given to the people of holidays and a wealth of wildlife on your Helmshore by Mr and Mrs Oliver William Porritt, in memory of door step. their father and grandfather. It consists of two areas - a formal Cronkshaw Fold Farm is also an ideal gardens area with clock tower and pathways between the > venue for Children´s Birthday Parties and educational visits. lawns, shrubs and mature trees - and a second area where you www.cronkshaw.co.uk can find the children’s play area and football pitch. [email protected] 01706 218614 A community group has been set up to help re-develop areas D of the park, but it is still a pleasant place to explore if you’re in > the area. > C Irwell Sculpture Trail START Running close to this route is a section of the 33 mile >

long Irwell Sculpture Trail. The trail runs through Salford, Wildlife watch Bury and Rossendale and is the largest sculpture route > in the UK. It makes a great free day out for all the family, This is a particularly great route if you want to see some connecting local heritage, the landscape and communities, wildlife, with nesting lapwing, buzzards soaring above and

plus there are links to a host of cultural attractions, from art wheatear just some of the birds spotted when we went to galleries and museums to the East Lancashire Railway. test this walk out. It’s also a great time for butterflies at the > moment, with small skipper, speckled wood and peacock The nearest sculptures to Helmshore are In the Picture, just a few to look out for. A below, and Remnant Kings, just south of Irwell Vale.

Although some may choose to, you don’t have to do all 33 miles of the trail in one go, as it’s also split into bite size >

clusters, allowing you to either take a short walk or spend > all day exploring the area. >

START: Car park at Helmshore Mills, Helmshore (GPS waypoint SD 777 214) DISTANCE: 4.5 miles (7km) DIFFICULTY: HEIGHT GAIN: APPROX. TIME: 2 hours PARKING: Available at Helmshore Mills at the beginning of the route ROUTE TERRAIN: Hard tracks, fields, grass hillsides FACILITIES: Café at Helmshore Mills, open to the general public from 11am SUITABILITY: Not suitable for wheelchairs or prams, dogs must be kept under control around livestock and ground nesting birds OS MAPS: Landranger 103 (Blackburn and Burnley), Explorer 287 (West Pennine Moors) 5 Your walk, step-by-step START From Helmshore Mill car in the same direction, passing Continue to follow the path past over before turning right along park, cross over then turn left along a group of trees on the left. Go the buildings and along the top the track. Stay on the track until it Holcombe Road. After reaching through the gap in the wall and into edge of the fields down to your bends to the left and passes over the garage, turn right up Park Road the next field - aim for the orange right. Ignore the stile on the one end of the reservoir. At this and pass Albert Mill Antiques on marker post in the distance directly right, which leads to an enclosed point, take the path ahead which your right. Take the signed public in front of you. footpath running alongside the runs up and alongside the fence. footpath between some conifers Go over the stile in the fence on the stone wall, instead keep going Go over the wooden boardwalks and a stone building, and follow left and continue on towards the along the current path until you and continue on to the woodland the track as it gradually ascends the orange marker post. Go through reach a wall corner and stile. C ahead. The path eventually leads hillside. another stile and then through Cross over and bear left, following out of the woodland and to a stile the gate. Turn left along the path. the direction of the Rossendale beside Holcombe Road. Go over Pass by a marker on the left for the Way marker post. When the path the stile and cross the road to the Rossendale Way and continue to seems to fork, keep left again. pavement on the other side. Turn follow the path over the broken right along the road to reach the down wall and over to the right. track on the opposite side of the The path soon becomes clear again road, which leads up behind the and joins a stone wall on the right. row of cottages. D “From this point, the path is “At this point you can either obvious as you continue to follow Holcombe Road back follow the Rossendale Way to the start of the walk or around the valley and over to continue up behind the the other side.” cottages and avoid the final road section”

Pass through the green gate and continue on for a few metres to the fence on your left, which rises up The path leads through the remains the side of the hill. Follow this fence of the stone quarry and eventually line up the side of the hill. At the out onto a junction of paths. A tall end of the fence, continue across chimney can be seen over to the the field in the same direction and left. Avoid the paths to the left and pass through the gap in the wall the right and take the faint path After reaching the foot of the valley beside two stone slabs set into the directly in front, which passes, to beside a stream, continue ground. Carry on through the next B the right of a wooden post. Follow along the track as it bends to the field and go over the stone steps in this path around to the right and right and leads you over to the the wall. Continue down the track continue on past the gully on the other side of the valley. Pass by and as it bends to the right, take left. Carefully follow the path down various derelict stone buildings the stile straight ahead beside the the hillside, keeping the wooden along the way as you carry on along house. and wire fence on your right. the path. Carry on behind the cottages and Follow the stone wall on the left, Holden Wood reservoir sits in the up the steep incline. Follow the The path eventually leads to a then take the stile on the left. A valley below. track around to the right and cross wooden fence with a wooden gate Keep the newly planted trees After reaching the foot of the over the stile. Cross another stile a to the left. Pass through and follow on your left and then follow the hill, cross over the stile into the bit further on and head down the the wall on your left. A new tree wall once it begins. Pass over the field and bear right to cross over track ahead. Keep going along the plantation appears on your right. stone stile and continue on. After another stile. Aim for the trees track to eventually arrive back at Go through another wooden gate reaching the hard track, follow it in the distance, keeping them on Albert Mill Antiques on your left. and follow the wall on your left away from the farm and up the hill. your right. Find the ladder stile at From here, retrace your steps back once more to arrive at another of Go through the stile and continue the bottom of the field and cross to the start of the walk. the stone ruins.

5 Musbury Heights and Helmshore David Turner

82 Lancashire Walks and Wildlife