Shuttleworth pub walk 06-08-2026 – leader David C

We were blessed with a beautiful evening for our final Thursday evening walk of the year.   One dog and 11 ramblers turned out and were led down from the pub, over the M66, past the Paddock campsite, and through to the bridge over the Irwell at Stubbins.  We passed the delightful cottages on the riverside, now sans the gorilla statue, but with a group of hungry chickens instead. 

After navigating the rather dark tunnel under the disused railway, David told us that we were now at the site of Stubbins Station on the Accrington to Manchester railway, which ran until 1966.  Shortly after this, and just before David explained about the tentering tower just above us, something crashed onto the path in front of Basil, shook itself, and scampered away!!  It turned out to be a grey squirrel that had somehow fallen from the trees above us, and – so Basil said – bounced off his head on the way!!  To get his own back, Basil then related how grey squirrels are being culled around Arnside prior to the reintroduction of the native red variety.

Excitement over, we continued to follow the railway line to the next subway near Irwell Vale, went under it, and doubled back on ourselves, following the railway and then the Irwell to reach Chatterton.  Here David halted near the blue plaque to tell us about the Weavers’ Uprising 200 years ago.  Yours truly then added that he and Roy had attended the commemoration of this on 26th April this year, and witnessed the unveiling of a new stone memorial in the field where the mill had stood – see featured picture.

 Then it was up to Stubbins and back to the pub on the main road to complete a delightful and interesting walk, with views to match.  Most of us retired to a very quiet Duckworth Arms for further refreshment and social, to end a really lovely evening. 

The next pub walk will be on Saturday 22nd August, starting at 10.30am from an as yet undisclosed pub.  Full details will be on this website and our Facebook page a week before the walk.