Pup Obi Travels

Our latest our walk as up at Ramsbottom, a town visited a few times over the years, my ex lived there, done a few walks and town centre not to bad. We were to do a circular walk starting at the train station, circle the town by the river Irwell and up to Peel Tower.

Starting at the railway station in Ramsbottom, the station is one of a few along the East Lancashire Railway, which is a steam train running from Bury to Rawtenstall. Teh line originally would have connected Ramsbottom to the main railway network at Bury, linking off to Haslingden and Blackburn to the west and a line running through the Rossendale valley to Bacup and down to Whitworth and Rochdale eventually. Only the Ramsbottom section remains as a steam railway for tourists.

Living the town beyond we headed east and then south passing the Nuttall Park and over the river Irwell towards Brooksbottom. The trackways we followed was cobbled in places, possible meaning of was an old route used by works from local villages to access the mills that once stood in Ramsbottom. As the land rises at this point, through the trees we could see the  Betam Tower in Manchester.

We didn’t actually reach Brooksbottom itself, our route skirted away from the village towards the main road into Ramsbottom and crossed over into Redisher Woods. We worked our way up through the woodland towards Holcombe Hill, at one point the path being blocked by a fallen tree. But we got past it.

Our pathway skirted the edge of Holcombe Hill which rises to the left of the picture above hiding the town of Ramsbottom. The sky has become grey and the threat of rain was in the air. But we pushed on to reach our goal which was Peel Tower.

Emerging onto Moorbottom Road, which runs the west side of Holcombe Hills the heavens did open and it meant part of route was going to be wet and muddy. The view over the valley where the Krypton Factor was filmed was gained, a rifle range at present. The remains of a farm can be found here on the trackways, long lost to history. We follow the road round before ascending up to the tower.

Peel Tower, is so named after Sir Robert Peel, the man who created the modern day policeman and police force. The Tower was built in 1852. On the opposite side of the valley is Grants Tower, now a ruin which was built by the Grant brothers in 1829.

We were not able to access the tower itself, but even from the hill itself you can gain some great panoramic views across North Manchester.

The final leg of the walks we walked a little over the hill looking back into the valley, Ramsbottom below, before going down the side of the hill, through Carr Barn Wood back to the start near the railway station. It was a lovely walk, getting to explore footpaths and areas aware of or not visited before.