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Take a walk in Ashworth Valley
Keen photographer and walker Ste Walton Mills started to appear in the valley during the
takes us on a tour of his favourite place in 18th century, mainly producing cotton and
Rochdale. paper.
This walking route follows public footpaths and This walk will take you past the remains of two
country roads through part of Ashworth Valley of the mills left standing in the valley today, the
following Naden Brook through Carr Wood. fulling mill and then Coal Bank Mill.
The walk takes a couple of hours depending The walk begins on School Lane where Naden
how often you stop to take in your Brook runs under the road.
surroundings, views and the wildlife the area
has to offer. There is a small lay-by that’s used as a passing
point that you can park in.
Keep an eye out for deer through the woods
and the hermit’s cave just before you reach the From the lay-by, head down to where the river
caravan park. runs under the road and take the dirt track on
your left.
Walking boots or similar are a must, as some of
the paths can be quite muddy and take a while Follow this past the farmhouse on your right
to dry out. The route is suitable for dogs and and through two kissing gates. Now it is just a
very popular with dog walkers. case of sticking to the path until you reach the
gate into the caravan park at the other end of
In the late 1500s coal had started to be mined Carr Wood.
in the valley by a man named John Blackwell.
Don’t be afraid to venture off the path and do
By the 17th century there were small a bit of exploring to find the fulling mill and the
communities in the valley with their own mines. waterfalls.
When you reach the gate, go through it and remains of Coal Bank Mill.
walk through the caravan park, then turn right
when you exit, up Ashworth Road. Now it is just a case of retracing your steps back
to where you parked at School Lane.
Carry on up Ashworth Road until you reach
School Lane on your right. If you do the walk on a Sunday or a Bank
Holiday, head over to Millcroft Tea Gardens and
Head down School Lane back towards where grab yourself a bite to eat: Roods Lane, Norden,
you started the walk. Rochdale OL11 5UE.
Across from the dirt track you took at the start If you fancy a drink, there are a few nearby pubs
of the walk you will see a public footpath on in Norden or there is the Owd Betts pub on
your left. Take that footpath until you reach the Edenfield Road, Rochdale OL12 7TY.
REAL ROCHDALE - AUTUMN 2019 6 7 REAL ROCHDALE - AUTUMN 2019
