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TAKE A WALK IN ASHWORTH VALLEY







          Keen photographer and walker Ste Walton              If you like watching or taking pictures of birds,                Continue through the field
          takes us on another tour of his favourite place      you will love this walk.                                         along the path and eventually
          in Rochdale.                                                                                                          you will reach a kissing gate. Go
                                                               There is car parking available on Saturdays                      through the gate, continuing
          This walking route follows public footpaths and      and Sundays at Simpson Clough Paper Mill on                      along the path, and be careful
          country roads through a part of Ashworth Valley,     Ashworth Road, close to the junction of Bury &                   of the steep drop on your right.
          following Cheesden Brook and Naden Brook.            Rochdale Old Road, or during the week, there is
                                                               a lay-by after the paper mill going up Ashworth                  Eventually you will reach a fork
          The duration of the walk is about one hour and       Road.                                                            in the footpath; take the
          30 minutes, and the difficulty is easy/medium.                                                                        right-hand fork and begin
                                                               Begin by walking up Ashworth Road, away from                     dropping down into the valley.
          The route can be muddy and slippery in parts, so     Bury & Rochdale Old Road.
          walking boots or good footwear are a must.                                                                            Stay on the path until you come
                                                               There is a public footpath on the left-hand side of              to the steel bridge in Dobb
          It is a popular route with dog walkers, but I would   Ashworth Road, about 200 yards after the paper                  Wood.
          advise keeping dogs on a lead because there are      mill. It is marked with a wooden public footpath
          some steep drops down into the Cheesden              sign and a white sign warning of steep cliffs.                   Cross over the bridge and
          Valley along the first and third sections of the                                                                      take the path that leads you up
          walk. There are also steep drops into the Naden      The path will take you up through the woods and                  and out of the valley into
          Valley along the last section.                       into a big field above Simpson Clough.                           another field.

                                                                                                                                Stay with the path until you
                                                                                                                                reach a gate and stile.

                                                                                                                                If the gate is closed, go over the
                                                                                                                                stile onto Ashworth Road, turn
                                                                                                                                left and you will pass through
                                                                                                                                the hamlet of Ashworth Fold.

                                                                                                                                You will find a public footpath
                                                                                                                                signposted to the right near the
                                                                                                                                other end of the hamlet.

                                                                                                                                Turn right along that lane and follow the path
                                                                                                                                down into Carr Wood.

                                                                                                                                Follow the path to the right and stay on it until
                                                                                                                                you reach the gate in Gelder Wood.


                                                                                                                                Go through the gate into the caravan park and
                                                                                                                                back out onto Ashworth Road, turn left and you
                                                                                                                                will end up back where you started.


                                                                                                                                If you fancy a pint or a brew afterwards and a
                                                                                                                                bite to eat, head to the Hare & Hounds,
                                                                                                                                865 Bury Road, Bamford, Rochdale, OL11 4AA.
                                                                                                                                It is open 7 days a week with food served from
                                                                                                                                12noon every day.
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