Garside Hey, Bury 02-08-2026 – leader Glyn Beck

18 Walkers met at Garside Hey Road, or that is what it is called on Google Maps. The council however have called it Hartford Drive, with street signs clearly displaying Hartford Drive. Anyway, we all managed to meet at the right point, including Jonathan –  Gerri’s – husband, and Ann – one of our pub walkers. We also welcomed back Arnold on his first six mile walk with us since his operation. From here we moved into the adjacent field for the group photograph, then I gave a brief outline of what to expect on the walk.

We set off across the field and down into the valley, before climbing the other side to reach the Kirklees Trail. We followed the trail for a while before turning right heading down towards the Kingsbury estate, from here we followed the path behind the houses and along the side of a fishing lodge with a stream on our other side. After a while we came to Kirklees Street which we crossed into more woodland with plenty of twisting paths, and rugged slopes to contend with. After passing through the twisty paths and another lodge we approached Tower Farm, turning to the left before we got there, which brought us to Island Lodge, which we circumnavigated to bring us back onto the Kirklees Trail, at the end of which was the ice cream hut I had mentioned in the walk description. Unfortunately it was shut, but not wanting to disappoint those wanting an ice cream. I asked if they were opening and was told in about 10 minutes, I apologised to the man, saying sorry but there are 18 walkers here doing a 6-mile circular route and we haven’t got time to wait ten minutes. The shutters went up very fast, and the group got their ice creams, after which we crossed two roads to bring us to Greenmount church. As we passed by the church on to Larkfield Drive, one of the group realised they had left their walking poles at the ice cream hut: I’m happy to say there wasn’t any larking about whilst we waited.

Shortly after setting off again, we came to Greenmount Golf Club which we skirted around to bring us to Hollymount School (formerly a convent). From here we headed into the Orchard where lunch was had. After lunch Arnold took us down to look at the Unknown Graveyard. where Nuns and orphanage children are buried – most of the children’s graves are unknown.

It was then back onto the public footpath and over a very wobbly style, which reminded me of the fair ground ride where all the floor moves. Then it was beautifully down to the bottom of the valley and then up the other side to bring us out on Turton Road, along which we walked about one hundred yards before turning off the road to pass through Old Kays Park ,which is more like a scrub land. After passing through the park, we were back on Holcombe Road not far from Greenmount Church We walked along the road for a very short time before turning onto Shepherd Street. Although being a street, only two wheeled vehicles and walkers can use it, then we turned right to walk back down the Kirklees Trail to Tottington and the station where the queen of Tottington resides (Lady Campanula Tottington). We then turned up a cut through into a housing estate and made our way back to Kirklees Street which we followed back to the Holcombe Hunt Kennels where all the beagle dogs where sunbathing,. We then passed the wildlife sanctuary and then The Enterprise Centre. After a few hundred yards we climbed into a field which we walked through to pass a duck pond and through a kissing gate, across another field down a hill to Garside Hey Garage and then the last few hundred yards to the cars.

Write up/walk leader Glyn Beck  

Photographs Stephen D, who also loaded them onto Flickr.

Back Marker Sue G

Thanks to Arnold for publishing it on the website.

Distance 6.03 Miles             Ascent 384feet – really?? (ed)

If you wish to see a static view of the pics all in one go, then click here. 

Continuously running slideshow below – you can see it full screen by clicking in top left of picture.