Ramsbottom, Affetside, Hawkshaw, Holcombe Moor and Redisher Woods

Introduction

It’s been a couple of years since my last trip to Ramsbottom when I completed a short walk of discovery with Cal and Adam. I’ve been meaning to return to this area for some time. Affetside and Hawkshaw lie to the west of the town.

I found this walk in an online publication, and it has a detailed leaflet. It is the 16th in the list of 20 Manchester Walks that you can see by following the link below.

https://www.visitmanchester.com/things-to-see-and-do/activities/walking?fbclid=IwAR21j4KwSexsyr0ZuHrHofEN9gEPZoWxhB7oedHyW3vR9IAFCU-CF5oDtKw&p=1

An extremely cold day in bright sunshine was forecast, and that’s what I got. The car thermometer read Minus 6 degC as I set off!

This 9 mile walk was completed it in4 hours, plus 20 minutes for lunch.

It’s a 45 minute drive to Ramsbottom from Cheadle Hulme.

I walked clockwise.

This walk is mixed for dog walking, most of it is on tracks or fenced paths, but some road sections and grazing areas too. If you have a large dog, there are one or two stiles that could be impassable.

I parked on the B6214 near to The Hare and Hounds pub, postcode BL0 9RY.

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 287. The DANGER AREA is a military rifle range. The walk leaflet gives a phone number, 01204 882991, for checking whether the path will be closed. I rang it and there was no answer. So, I went ahead, and there were no red flags flying from the poles when I reached the boundary.

Hare And Hounds To Affetside

Leaving the A676 behind and passing a few cottages, the route soon reaches open countryside. The moon was still up.

At the end of the first path, I could see the return route from the woods to my right.

I went left, then crossed the A676 to cross more fields at the side of a housing estate.

Bury seems to have its own unique design of gates.

I was enjoying the views with the sun beating down on the snow.

Soon I was at Greenmount Golf Club. The foreground of this picture is, I think, the 3rd green. Looks a very interesting hole.

Passing the club house and 1st tee, a drive leads me to Hollymount School, and on towards a road.

It’s then a steady uphill path to meet the Roman Road to Affetside. There are now some splendid views to Bury.

Affetside To Holcombe Moor

At The Pack Horse Inn I turned right. Before the path led downhill I took in the aspect to The Peel Monument (left of picture), and over Ramsbottom to the Pennine moors across the valley.

At the house on my way down, the cat was enjoying the snow and the sunshine, and the dogs just wanted to play!

After crossing the road, the hillside was dotted with remnants of an industrial past. This is the last of several frozen mill ponds on this section. The lifebelt seemed a poignant reminder, if another one was needed, of the dangers of a frozen open water.

I crossed the main road at Hawkshaw, after a brief stop in the village store to buy a newspaper, and began the ascent along a minor road towards Holcombe Moor.

At the top of the road, it becomes a track, and then the route turns left. A brief stretch of a farm drive gives way to a grassy gully where the drive bends left.

The grassy gully is a challenge. It’s really a hidden boggy stream purporting to be a path. Hard, slow going for a while.

The next picture is the view back down the gully after I’d “escaped” up the bank where it became easier!e

I was now able to make my way onto a flatter area, with the seemingly ubiquitous disused digger.

A deserted, derelict, building provided a great spot for lunch.

After lunch it was a short walk up to the high point of the walk, and a great view back across my lunch site.

Holcombe Moor To Redisher Wood

I was now entering the DANGER AREA on the path which loops round the head of Red Brook.

Here’ the path crosses the brook.

This is a beautiful remote spot, where I was joined by just a flock of lapwings and a pair of stonechats.

Oh, and then, out of the blue, a military helicopter. The Winter Hill TV mast is in the background.

Then came the steep descent into the valley and Redisher Woods.

At the bottom is a brook which has almost completely frozen, not something I have seen before.

From here, it’s a short walk back along the route I’d taken a few hours earlier. It was a positively balmy plus 0.5DegC as I got back into the car!

This was a great day out, aided by the exciting weather conditions which had the bonus of eliminating any mud… and there would have been plenty!

And Finally….

My musical highlight of the week was a fourth visit to see the great Skinny Lister.

This rendition of “38 Minutes” should give the uninitiated an idea of just how good they are live!