HIS walk avoids the trek up to Peel Tower but instead explores the Irwell Valley, Nuttall Park and the industrial village of Brooksbottoms alongside the East Lancashire Railway.

The route follows riverside and woodland paths including a section of the Irwell Valley Way.

Cross the road outside the car park entrance and join the path almost opposite that leads to the cobbled Holcombe Old Road. Turn left along this former packhorse route and follow it downhill for the next ½ mile with views looking south to Bury and Manchester.

The cobbles eventually stop and the lane swings left to emerge behind the Hare & Hounds pub. With care cross the bottom of Lumb Carr Road and the busy junction of the A676 to join the signed Woodhey Road on the opposite side.

Follow this residential road alongside a school and when it forks into two take the right fork which soon turns sharp right then left around the wall of Woodhey Farm.

The path enters woodland, follow it downhill crossing a stream a few times to reach a footbridge on the right.

Turn right across the footbridge, this passes cottages on the left and joins a road next to the former Summerseat Liberal Club. Turn left along this road and it leads to the industrial terraced rows of Brooksbottoms which once housed the workers of the huge mill (now private apartments) on the other side of the railway.

Do not cross under the railway viaduct but at the end of the terraces turn left up a back street and join a path signed for Nuttall Lane. This becomes a cobbled path heading uphill and along the edge of a meadow. It becomes an asphalt path bearing right and drops downhill to a minor lane.

Turn right along the lane and join a woodland track heading to the River Irwell. Keep the river on the right and it is soon crossed via a large footbridge.

A stony track leads straight ahead and the car park of Nuttall Park is soon reached on the left.

Turn left and follow the driveway diagonally through the park, passing the toilets on the right and heading back to the River Irwell and the railway line.

On the opposite side of the park the river is rejoined on the right and you go through a tunnel under the East Lancashire Railway. Continue straight ahead crossing the river again via a road bridge. After crossing the bridge join the flagged steps on the left leading uphill to rejoin the A676 road. Turn left along this and turn right at the junction by the Dun Mare pub joining Dundee Lane.

Follow this road uphill until a cul-de-sac, Downfield Close, is reached on the left.

There is a footpath sign here. Turn left up the close and facing the end house there are footpaths either side of it.

Join the path to the left of the house climbing steps and then turning left then right along a path which follows the edge of a woodland.

Continue straight ahead through the trees for the next ? mile until a path forks off it to the right indicated by a Peel Tower waymarker.

Take this path on the right which leads uphill soon emerging on Lumb Carr Road adjacent to the car park.

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