Walk 2183 - printer friendly version

Irwell Sculpture Trail Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 4.5 miles / 7.3 km

Ascent - 500 feet / 152 metres

Grade - easy

Start - OS grid reference SD872234
Lat 53.7068670 + Long -2.1953842
Postcode OL13 9BL (approx. location only)

Starting from Bacup this Lancashire walk explore the area northeast of the town. The route follows sections of the Irwell Sculpture Trail and the Rossendale Way across a landscape of farmland and moorland. Waymarking is sporadic so the relevant OS 1:25k map may be useful.

Limited on street parking is available Greensnook Lane (grid ref. SD872234) on the north side of the A681 east of the town centre. After parking locate 41 Greensnook Lane and take the track opposite (Todmorden Old Road). Follow the track as it bends right and take the first footpath on the left just past the last house on the left. The path follows the left-hand edge of the field. Entering the next field, the Sentinel sculpture is on your left (grid ref. SD872237). Pass to the right of the structure and follow the wall on your right. The track soon passes between walls. Enters another field where you follow the wall on your left. Continue ahead to join a tarmac lane (Old Meadows Road).

Continue ahead along the lane for just under a kilometre to reach Far Old Meadows Farm (grid ref. SD872248). Follow the lane between the buildings to reach a fingerpost. Pass through the gate and follow the track with a wall on your left. This soon joins a clearer track coming in from the left. Continue ahead and fork left when nearing the first building at Scar End Farm. Follow this track, keeping straight ahead after passing the last building. Cross Scar End brook and after 100 metres turn off to the right on a footpath which soon crosses a footbridge over the River Irwell. Continue along the path which leads up to Beaufort Road (grid ref. SD873254).

Keep the trees on your right and continue to the end of the road. Turn left along Greenwood Drive and at the next junction, turn right along Heald Lane. Keep ahead to reach Heald Town Farm (grid ref. SD876259). Leave the Irwell Sculpture Trail which turns left and turn right to follow the Rossendale Way. The route keeps to left of an isolated property and then continues with a wall on the right towards Heald Top Farm. Just before the farm, turn right (grid ref. SD886253) along a grassy track between broken walls. Entering e field fork right under two sets of power lines to entre a field. Keep the wall on your right and continue down to reach the Todmorden Old Road (track). Bear right along the track and continue downhill to reach Greensnook Lane and the start of the walk in Bacup.

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