‘Pub’ walk from Bury 18-04-2026 – leader Glyn Beck

Last autumn, yours truly often felt that he needed a care home at the end of a walk, but Glyn provided one at the start of the walk today – though happily not needed at the end.  On a blustery morning, 15 walkers and 3 dogs set off across the main road, including Lorraine – another of Judy’s neighbours – with us for the first time today.  We enjoyed her company, and hope to see her again soon.

Soon after passing Old Oak Farm and Brandlesholme Old Hall, we met a lady with an injured pigeon in a box, seeking the wildlife rescue centre, so we told her to keep walking along the puddled lane.  We didn’t go that far, as we soon cut off across fields and through pleasant but slippery woodland to the Kirklees Trail – the old railway line between Bury and Holcombe Brook.  Here we saw the ‘Totty Snake’, a line of painted pebbles put down by local children and adults during Covid.  At the end of this we came to a turning circle with a refreshment van, of which one or two partook.

Pressing on, we walked through a bit of Tottington before coming out near Island Lodge, one of many lodges that we saw in this post-industrial landscape today.  After passing the ruins of Tottington Printworks, we met 3 horses and riders that we had seen before, and were intrigued to discover that one of the horses did not like to cross the brook.  Your editor waited a while, but there seemed no progress on that front.  We crossed the brook via a footbridge later on, and then wound our way up through Kingsbury Woods to another lodge, near which was the Enterprise Centre where the horses are stabled.

The puddled path took us back to the main road and thence to Cosalea, where I think everyone partook of very pleasant refreshments and/or food, along with some continuing natter.  Thus ended a very pleasant morning thanks to Glyn, to back marker Sue, and to all who came for their pleasant company.  

The next pub walk will be on Thursday 7th May, starting at 7pm from the Pack Horse Inn, Elbut Lane, Birtle, Bury.  Full details will be on this website and our Facebook page a week before the walk.