Introduction

The second half of September was blighted by heavy rain. With the ground so wet, I decided to stick to what I hoped would be fairly well made paths in an urban country park area. I wasn’t disappointed, as this is a really interesting area to explore.

The weather today was dry, bright, and mainly sunny.

The journey by car to Moses Gate would take 30-40 minutes. However, with plenty of time on my hands today, I decided to take the train which took 1 hour 20 minutes from Cheadle Hulme to Farnworth.

This walk is 6 miles with 450 feet of ascent and took 3.5 hours at a leisurely pace, plus a half hour for lunch.

Much of this walk is great for dog walking, being in the country park and along the towpath of a disused canal.

I walked in an anti-clockwise direction.

The walk requires both OS Explorer Maps 276 and 277.

Had I used the car, I would have parked in the Moses Gate Car Park, postcode BL4 7QS. What 3 Words ///prove.feels.teeth

Having arrived at Farnworth Station, I joined the route at Clammerclough.

Clammerclough To Ringley

From the maps, it isn’t easy to distinguish the various waterways on this walk. I joined the route at the point where a bridge crosses a river, at first Assuming it to be the Irwell. In fact it is the River Croal, just north of its entry into the Irwell.

Then I crossed some rough open ground where late summer leaves were turning autumnal.

Upon reaching the canal wharf I was unaware of the overgrown disused lock flight ahead of me. I returned to this point later, with a much better understanding of the geography.

Meantime, I turned right along a towpath which crosses the River Irwell on a high aqueduct. As the picture shows, other forms of transport are available.

I continued on along the disused canal which is heading from Bolton towards Salford at this point. Much of it is swamped by vegetation, and it is certainly unnavigable.

It is however, delightfully pretty!

It comes to an abrupt end just before reaching the A667. Turning left onto the road, a wall opposite indicates the former position of a bridge over the canal.

Ringley To The Canal

I immediately joined a path to the left up a hill, and did well to spot a stile to my right, where the path appeared to go left. This loop round to Cinder Hill is probably worth avoiding, as it’s just farmland, that has little more appeal than the main road.

The same applies to the next section which can also be avoided by staying on the main road until a disused rail line is reached, from where the Irwell Sculpture Trail leads to the same bridge that I took over the River Irwell.

For me, there was a driveway to Shore Top Farm, but then a padlocked gate to climb, into a field of cattle (docile today), and it was pretty muddy as I negotiated my way downhill. Nice views though!

From the field a path leads on to the bridge.

A track to the left soon leads to a route up the bank onto the higher level section of the disused canal. Here I found myself on the section from Bury towards Bolton. It’s just as pretty as the earlier section!

Nob End

A little way along, a large redundant wharf provides a great habitat for water birds.

The canal was largely used for transporting coal from the many pts in the area.

Still standing, and a listed structure, is the Mount Sion Steam Crane. It was used to transfer coal from the canal to the nearby bleach works.

After passing an area where disused works sites are being transformed into housing complexes, the route reaches Nob End, and the amazing Meccano Bridge at the head of the disused Prestolee lock flight. The bridge, and the bench where I stopped for lunch are built at ten times the scale of the Meccano toy.

The view down the locks from the bridge is a poignant reminder of a bygone age.

Here s some more information from a nearby board.

I walked down the track to the bottom of the flight, arriving at the point I had previously walked near the start of my route, and looked back up to the Meccano bridge, and along towards the aqueduct that I crossed earlier.

River Croal And Moses Gate Country Park

I now made my way down to The River Croal. It was looking magnificent, and I’m surprised I’ve never previously heard of it.

Then I made my way back up to the Bolton branch of the canal which is at the high level, running on from the top of the Prestolee locks.

This section is being maintained in good order and terminates at a pleasant wharf.

A short section of main road crosses the River Croal, and then a left turn leads through the car park to the pools at Moses Gate.

I’m not sure of their origins, but they now make a pleasant ornamental park.

From here, my route returns along the opposite bank of the beautiful River Croal.

All in all, a really enjoyable walk full of interest.

Definitely recommended!

And Finally….

Here’s something from Keith Urban’s new album of country pop. The album is called High, and this is Messed Up As Me.