| Walking Up An Appetite |
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Date : 31st October 2009
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Leader : Phil Bedson |
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Report by : Phil Bedson |
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Photos © : Phil Bedson |
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| Autumn sun seeping through the trees | |
So it’s the end of October and a bright sunny morning was just the thing for the three individuals who met up at Accrington Train Station for the 09.19 to Lostock Hall. After leaving the train one of our first acts was to navigate our way across a very busy bypass which seemed to have a never-ending line of cars and this took all of 5 minutes. Once across we were soon crossing a field before finding ourselves with yet another bypass to cross which thankfully we managed almost immediately. Now maps are a curious thing in that almost as soon as you buy one it can be out of date due to areas of land being declared Business Parks, so it came as no surprise that our way forward had a four storey office building built upon it where there were previously green fields. The well laid out diversion made it easy to follow through though and before long we were strolling along a quiet country lane anticipating the day ahead.
Passing under the M65 we turned right to enter the Cuerden Valley Country Park. The actual enclosed path is still there albeit completely overgrown due to the nice new path created for the park having taken precedence. After going over the M6, the clear track through the country park was easy to follow and soon we passed at a distance Cuerden Hall. With the earliest mention of a manor on the site being from the 12thC the present building dates from the 18thC. During WWI Cuerden was a troop hospital and during WWII it was requisitioned as an Army training centre.
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left:
The original enclosed path |
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right: Cuerden Hall |
As we proceeded the route ahead was very busy with both dog walkers and cyclists with both parties desperately in need of a bell so you were aware of their presence before scaring you to death. A small ford was easily navigated (we used the bridge further upstream) and on we went through the parklands and trees until we arrived at the ruins of Lower Kem Mill where we took a well earned drink stop. The ruins you see today are all that is left of a once thriving industry. There had been bleaching and dying on this site for 130 years until a fire in 1914 effectively closed the mill down. After being purchased in the 50’s by a local farmer for use as farm buildings by 1973 any remaining structures had been demolished.
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left:
Testing the waters at the ford |
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right: Lower Kem Mill ruins |
At Whittle-le-Woods we crossed the busy A6, pausing momentarily to admire the church of St.John the Evangelist, before we tackled our first hill of the day. The path that goes uphill from the A6 is a narrow cobbled one from days of old and one could imagine the locals using it to visit church on a Sunday morning or indeed going to work at Lower Kem Mil. Today though, it was three Ramblers who slipped and slid their way steadily upwards due to the abundance of autumn leaves.
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left:
St John the Evangelist |
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right: Slippery cobbles |
Arrival at the top was a chance to take a breather before making their way through the mix of old and modern housing. A small footpath took us past fields, complete with friendly Shetland ponies, round to Whittle Hills and past the appropriately named Hillfoot Cottage before we took a farm track off to our right. Following the footpath around the farm buildings took us to a woodland path that in turn led to the longest motorway underpass under the M61. From here various field paths and tracks took us gently upwards to Denham Hall where, after a quick drink, we took the farm road up to join Denham Lane.
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left:
Hillfoot Cottage |
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right: The track to Denham Hall |
Walking along the lane afforded extensive field views eastwards and Darwen Tower could easily be seen on the horizon. After passing through the hamlet of Top O’ Th’ Lane, our high point of the day, we took a stile into fields and followed the paths down into the village of Brindle. Original intentions upon arrival here was to have a late lunch with a pint at the Cavendish Arms however, due to there being just three of us, we had decided during the walk to have a pub lunch and one has to say it was more than expected. Having all opted for the gammon the huge plates were gradually cleaned of their contents and two even had room for dessert! We left 90 minutes later having felt like we’d over-indulged but very satisfied and, before leaving the village altogether, stopped in at the local church, St James’ Brindle.
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left:
The Cavendish Arms |
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right: St James' at Brindle |
Field paths took us out of the village and we crossed the M65 again before more field paths took us towards Haddock Park Wood. The low sun coming through the trees cast wonderful shadows and we entered the wood for a short while before coming out the other side to follow its edge northwards. Here we came across what must be the muddiest stretch of any walk to date and as we came to Duckworth House we could have done with the ability to hover. Safely through we crossed over the rail tracks and joined the road where we turned left to go under the M61 again. Passing the Hospital Inn public house the road took us through Walton Summit before we took a path off next to a garden centre. This was the final leg of the walk and the path went under the M6 and along the edge of the rail tracks back to Bamber Bridge Station. With 10 minutes to wait for the train home it was just enough time to have a coffee and all agreed it had been a great day.
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| The landscape as we returned to Bamber Bridge | |
