A Visit to Roscow’s Tenement Clough

Click on each picture to see an enlargement.

Today's walk was very short, only two miles, but it was one and a half hours pleasantly spent visiting a small and secluded clough, complete with babbling brook and lots of autumn leaves.

Roscow's Tenement Clough is a narrow, densely wooded area that begins on the lower slopes of Smithills Moor, from where it comes downhill, on its way straddling the Coal Pit Road between Holdens Farm and Gilligants Farm, to eventually meet Walker Fold Woods. A small stream slices through the clough, and in Walker Fold Woods joins Dean Brook. Today's short walk visited the middle section of this clough.

The grid references are taken from the Ordnance Survey map OS287, West Pennine Moors (courtesy of TrackLogs Digital Maps).


I parked the car in a small lane opposite Walker Fold Farm, that seems to be a popular starting point for walkers exploring this area. Grid ref: SD SD676 122.


On leaving the lane we turned left onto Walker Fold Road.


A short distance downhill we came to a stile in the fence on the left hand side of the road. Although it was only necessary to walk a short distance, you need to exercise care as it is downhill on a blind right hand bend on a quite busy road.

On reaching the stile we passed through and descended the steps and the wooden boardwalk to reach the woods.


The boardwalk led us to a metal footbridge over Dean Brook. Grid ref: SD SD675 124.


After crossing the bridge we turned left to begin ascending a long, winding flight of steps.


Half way up the steps there is a dirt path heading off straight ahead that, if followed, would take you on a pleasant walk through Walker Foold Woods and bring you out at the start of the lane where I had parked my car. On this occasion though, we ignored the path and continued uphill.


At the top of the steps we followed the path through an area of young trees to reach this stile, which I climbed over (whilst Brett and Sam jumped through) and continued along the path to the right. Grid ref: SD SD674 127.


A short distance later we passed through this gate to leave Walker Fold Woods.


The path now took us uphill past Sheep Cote Green Farm.


At the top of the hill the path veered to the left, away from Sheep Cote Green Farm,


A short distance on the path reached the entrance to the mid-section of Roscow's Tenement Clough. Grid ref: SD SD673 128.


This picture shows how picturesque this small area of the clough is. With the babbling brook and the autumn leaves it invites you to linger awhile to take it all in. This is a place that I must visit in springtime to see what it looks like then; hopefully it will provide some nice images. Today though, the daylight hours were fast ebbing away, so we had to continue on our way.


After crossing the stone footbridge we began the narrow ascent out of the clough.


Soon we came to the last of the upward steps and out onto a road, where we turned right.


The road soon brought us to the junction with the Coal Pit Road, where we turned left and headed towards Holdens Farm. Just across the road you can see the gate leading into the upper section of Roscoe Tenement Clough. Grid ref: SD SD671 131.


Just before entering the farmyard we took the patrh off to the left.


Part way along the path we turned left towards Brown Lowe and Burnt Edge. Grid ref: SD SD666 130.


At Brown Lowe we went through the gate and straight on.


A few yards farther along the path we passed by the ruins of the former Burnt Edge Colliery buildings. Grid ref: SD SD668 126.


At this point we followed the main path to the left, ignoring the one going straight on towards the woods on the side of the hill.


A short distance along the path we passed through the gate at the edge of Walker Fold Woods.


If you have a little time to spare for a detour through the woods you can go left here, to come out part way up the winding steps we ascended near the beginning of this walk. From there you could descend to the metal footbridge and thence to Walker Fold Road. On this occasion though, as dusk was fast settling upon us, we carried straight on.


A few minutes walk along the path and the first glimpse of Walker Fold Road came into view (on the left of the picture) signalled we didn't have far to go. Grid ref: SD SD673 123.


The last quarter mile brought us to the the end of a very pleasant stroll. Grid ref: SD SD676 122.