PEEL TOWER, HOLCOMBE MOOR

Walkers near Peel Tower Sheep on Holcombe Moor AND

4 RAMSBOTTOM - HOLCOMBE - PEEL TOWER - Cross the wide track and go over the ladder were called out and 6 protestors were killed. HOLCOMBE MOOR - - RAMSBOTTOM stile, following the track as it drops down beside Others were transported to Australia. Buckden Wood to the main road. Continue along the path and when you reach Visit manchesterscountryside.com WALK 13 Cross the main road and continue along track houses follow the path which continues at the dropping down, taking the first turning on your rear of the houses and gardens, eventually right. Continue 10 yards, over a stile on your right. leading onto a main road at Stubbins. Turn left, continue dropping down the fenceline on your left. Go over two stiles, dropping down, 6 cross the stream by a footbridge, bear left, along Turn left, crossing the by the the path following the stream which is on your footbridge. Turn right, cross main road and take left. the track opposite with the mill on your left, River Irwell on your right. Ignore the two lanes which Buckden Wood and the Stubbins Estate were branch off to the left. Continue ahead, passing given to the National Trust in 1948 by Colonel through a gate, bearing left to pass through Porritt in memory of his son Richard, who was another gate in the wall on your right. killed at Dunkirk. The farmland includes the only grassland SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) Follow the path alongside the stone wall. At the in the West . end of the field pass through a kissing gate then over a footbridge. Continue straight ahead, with You now re-cross the stream, continue along the the river Irwell on your right. Follow the trodden path leading over a stile, take the path on your path diagonally to the left corner of the buildings left, with the stream on your right. ahead. Go through the kissing gate and follow Follow the path as it drops down, passing a house the path around onto Kenyon Street. Turn left and on your right. Continue along the path bearing on meeting the main road, turn right over the round to the right leading onto a metalled road. river and continue back to Railway Street.

5 This walk forms part of a series of walks Turn left, passing under two bridges. After the and trails developed by ’s second bridge, turn right immediately, onto a Countryside. For more information on narrow path, with houses on your left, follow Manchester’s Countryside, including narrow path with the River Irwell on your left downloads of the walks visit: Across the river, on the playing fields, stood www.manchesterscountryside.com Aikin’s Mill, the site of the famous Chatterton Riot Telephone: 0161 253 5111 in 1826, when a crowd of Luddites, concerned email: [email protected] that the power looms in the mill would deprive them of a living as hand loom weavers, entered This walk has been produced by Bury Council. the mill and destroyed machinery. Soldiers Peel Tower, Holcombe 5 N Moor and Ramsbottom THE WALK 4 BUCKDEN WOOD Distance: 1 BUCKDEN 6 miles/9.5km Turn left if you are coming out of the Railway COTTAGE Station and continue along Railway Street. Starting Point: As the road bends round to the right, carry SITE OF Ramsbottom Station, Railway Street, Ramsbottom straight on. PILGRIMS’S CROSS 6 We advise the you use the Ordnance Survey The TNT depot one your left occupies the Explorer Map 287, former site of the Grant Brothers’ Square Mill, STUBBINS built in 1821. Time: OX HEY WOOD Where the road bends to the left turn right Allow about 2-3 hours along a narrow path. Then bear left along WALK 13 the flagged path, climbing steadily towards St. How to Get There: Andrew’s Church. By East Steam Railway - Street Station, Bury to Ramsbottom Station. Trains The church was built in 1832 as a Scottish run weekends and Bank Holidays all year round Presbyterian church by William Grant and the and Wed-Sun from May to Sept. Tel 0161 764 7790 family coat of arms survives on the north and ROAD or visit www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk south elevations. The clock was made by an HOLCOMBE engineer at Square Mill. and hot air from the By Car - to Ramsbottom to junction 1 on M66. mill was used to heat the church. At traffic lights turn right onto A56 towards 3 1 Ramsbottom. Continue to next traffic lights and On reaching the main road, turn left and RAMSBOTTOM turn left towards Ramsbottom town centre along continue as far as St Andrews School. Cross to PEEL ELR STATION Bury New Road. After level crossing turn left the opposite side of the road and continue up TOWER SHOULDER along Railway Street. Parking on left next to Dundee Lane. OF MUTTON 2 the or turn right for town PUBLIC HOUSE centre car parking. On the left you’ll see the School House. This was built in 1864 incorporating features TOP’OTH By Bus - 472/474 to Ramsbottom from Bury from Holcombe Courthouse and Manchester MOOR MAP NOT TO SCALE Interchange, Bury Town Centre Cathedral. The front doorway came from the FARM former and the 1414 datestone above it from Public Transport the latter. Turn left, cross the main road, and bear right along along the path leading to a gate. Go through the Information Cross Lane. Keep going until you reach a lane on gate and follow the path across Holcombe Moor 2 your right, which you take before forking right, (owned by the National Trust) and over Harcles 0871 200 2233 www.tfgm.com When the road narrows turn left up Downfield following the track signposted to Peel Monument. Hill. Continue along this path for a mile to Pilgrims’ Close and then climb the steps on the right Climbing steadily, make your way Cross. Places to Eat up the side of the hill until you reach Peel Tower. There are cafes and in Ramsbottom town leading onto a path. Follow the path, climbing Pilgrim’s Cross is a marker on the pilgrim route centre at the start and end of the walk. Food is onto a setted path, until you reach the Grade 2 Peel Tower is a monument to Sir , born from Manchester to Whalley Abbey. The present also served at the historic Shoulder of Mutton Inn listed Shoulder of Mutton . in Bury, who as Home Secretary was responsible stone marks the site of earlier ones which have in Holcombe Village. The pub dates from the 17th Century but was for founding the modern police force and as existed since at least 1166. Prime Minister repealed the Corn Laws. William extensively altered and extended in 1751. On reaching Pilgrims’ Cross, take the right hand Walk Summary Grant was Chairman of the appeal committee It was known to have been a venue for cock path. Follow the path marked with poles, passing This (sometimes strenuous) circular walk gives you which erected the Tower and arranged for it to be fighting until it was made illegal in 1849. the flag pole on your left, and on your right a everything; spectacular views woodland, riverside Holcombe Village is a fine example of a pre- constructed on a line from his front door beyond rambling and heritage. Have a rest when you notice board. Leave the main path, heading industrial settlement and is now a conservation the steeple of St Andrew’s Church. reach Peel Tower to catch your breath and admire down to the corner of the stone wall leading onto area. Holcombe was attacked by Zeppelins in views across Manchester and the North West. 3 another path. Continue dropping down along the World War I, the church being damaged and path going through rough pasture which is walled (Please note that this walk crosses farmland Immediately past Peel Tower, bear left along the the school still bearing the bullet holes! on both sides. and so please protect livestock by keeping to green path above a hollow on the left.. Continue the footpath and ensuring that all dogs are kept under control).