Stroll from Winter Hill to Walker Fold Woods

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This walk was about four miles and took me and my two dogs (Brett and Sam) about 2-1/2hr. Well I did have some pictures to take and I did get lost and missed my intended path in the woods a couple of times . The map I used was OS287, West Pennine Moors (courtesy of  TrackLogs Digital Maps).

I started the walk at the layby part way up the Winter Hill road (OS Ref: SD652 127). Although this is shown as a footpath on the map, it is in fact the service road leading up to the telecommunications masts on Winter Hill. The layby is just before the first cattle grid.


After crossing the cattle grid, a glance to the left will give you this view of Rivington Pike (top left on the horizon) and the Two Lads cairns (top right).


Just before you reach the second cattle grid, there is a gate and a signpost to a footpath on the right. The picture shows the 1,000ft tall main mast at the top of Winter Hill. OS Ref: SD657 128. I'm not sure what Sam's having a sniff at but, judging by his hesitant approach, I don't think he does either.


Our walk takes us through the gate and onto the path leading to Walker Fold. Immediately a great view opens up of the moorland (not to mention my dog Brett coming to investigate why I'm not keeping up with him).  ;-)


Soon we arrive at a T-junction in the path. Our direction is to the right, again signposted Walker Fold. The trees shown in the picture are part of the Holden Plantation. OS Ref: SD662 129.


As we walked along the path it took us along Burnt Edge and Burnt Edge Lane. To the right was moorland, whilst to the left was extensive pastureland populated by about nine farms. The one shown in the picture is Holden's Farm. High above the farm lies Smithills Moor.


Burnt Edge Lane eventually leads to a crossroads with Matchmoor Lane, and Edge Lane straight ahead. OS Ref: SD670 121. We followed Edge Lane as it zigzagged its way downhill to its junction with Walker Fold Road. Just before the junction I came across this little pond hidden amongst the trees.


The walk took us left and continuing downhill along Walker Fold Road. On our way down I noticed this unusual object (signpost, memorial, I know not) at the side of the road.


Just as we passed Walker Fold Farm, and just as Walker Fold Road became Colliers Row Road, we came to a stile in the left hand fence leading into Walker Fold Woods. Care needs to be taken when approaching this stile as it is on a sharp right bend in the road that makes it hard to see approaching traffic. OS Ref: SD676 123.


I chose a path through the woods (after several wrong turns) that would take me out towards the area just below Burnt Edge Lane. This path criss-crossed Dean Brook several times via a number of wooden footbridges. This one also had a nice resting place close by.


This picture shows the last of the footbridges we came across as we made our way through the woods.


We eventually reached the edge of the woods just below Burnt Edge Lane and exited through the gate to the path beyond. OS Ref: SD669 125. At this point there are two possible routes back, one of which could be straight on and via Brown Lowe and Holden's Farm.


I chose the path off to the left that gradually rose to meet Burnt Edge.


As we ascended the path I took one last look back towards Walker Fold Woods. The two farms in the distance are Sheep Cote Green Farm and Chadwick's Close Farm.


Part way up the path I came across these old gate posts that possibly led to another, long since gone farm. The farm in the picture is Holden's farm.


Eventually the path came to the junction with Burnt Edge (OS Ref: SD662 127) where we turned right and followed the path to the T-junction (OS Ref: SD662 129). There we took the left hand path that took us back to our starting point (OS Ref: SD652 127). If you wanted to extend the walk a little longer you could go straight on at the T-junction. That would take you past Holden's Plantation to come out higher up on the Winter Hill service road. Brett and Sam seem to be debating which way to go, but as I was leader (well I thought I was, they might not agree) I decided we would go left and back home for tea.