Bradley Fold – 08/11/2026 – Leader Judy

14 met up on Remembrance Sunday, undeterred by a very foggy morning, which included Jackie on her first walk with us, and hopefully we’ll see her again.

So we set off around the small reservoirs, site of a former textile factory but now with its resident family of swans and fishing competition in full flow – I bet they were pleased to see us!! We got out of their way by dropping down to join the Rotary Way and then the path of the former Liverpool to Bury and Rawtenstall railway line which closed in 1970 after 120 years of operation. From here we went beside playing fields and on to Darcy Lever with history dating back to the Norman Conquest. Soon we were entering Moses Gate Country Park which, after an enquiry from John, the Internet gave Moses Gate as meaning ‘the way across marshes’. Luckily we were on good paths with no marsh land. This nature reserve previously contained paper mills, bleach works, coal mines, chemical works and sewage works.  Now it is a wildlife haven although Rosemary did not let us forget that she didn’t seen a kingfisher, but never mind as Stephen has come up trumps! The pedestrian/horse rider crossing had some of us stretching! The River Croal running through it as part of its 10 mile route, used to be heavily polluted but not now. We had 2 minutes silence at 11am above the river with leaves falling off the trees around us, which somehow seemed fitting.

We continued alongside the river towards Little Lever, with Gill getting a little too relaxed on the way, with a bit of a climb up to the Bury, Bolton and Manchester Canal which we followed to Nob End. After pausing to admire the impressive Meccano Bridge and now neglected Nob End locks, we then had our break on the nearby also scaled up Meccano benches, with Arnold drawing attention to the obelisk on a cog based plinth, a monumental distance marker. 

Next we went along the canal towpath where the breach, which occurred in 1936 and left untouched for 9 decades, is being repaired.  Unfortunately this is linked to a new housing development but still an incredible piece of engineering and a jaw dropping sight. The installation of a new bridge and the structure to contain the canal water were also of interest as we continued along the tow path. Soon after we left the canal on the Rotary Way, through parts of Little Lever until we got to the Queens Pub where we paused to look at the site of the former Bradley Fold Railway station, with some historic photos including of when the Queen visited. From there it was a short distance back to the cars.

Many thanks to Stephen D for once again using his creative skills to get fantastic photos and loading them on Flickr, and to David H for great back marking in his useful highly visible coat. Thanks to all for coming and enduring the fog, although it did add atmosphere to the lovely autumn colours.

Distance – 5.97 miles.    Ascent – 304 feet    M/h – 2.1

Pics – Stephen D.     Write up – Judy

‘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