Brindle and Withnell Fold 6.5 miles Walkers John W, Vic, Anthony, Jim C, Paddy and Danny.

Setting off from Brindle Community Hall car park, we walked uphill to the T junction by the Parish Church, turned right, then after passing an old, but tastefully restored cottage on the left, named Cross Keys Cottage, which John informed us, used to be an old coaching inn, we turned right along a signposted path and through a small gate into a large field of very contented supine cows. The cows were obviously used to humans as they didn't bother to get up as we walked among them, and took little notice of us.

We walked diagonally left to the opposite corner of the field. The ground underfoot was hard and uneven, making walking difficult. Overhead a buzzard circled, making loud
creeching calls, letting us know that we were invading it's territory. The stile into the next field was very wabbly, tipping up and down again as we crossed it.

The unmarked path lay straight ahead. Keeping a fence to our left, we crossed an equally hard uneven field, at the end of which, another stile spilled us out into a quiet lane.

Turning left along the lane, after about 400 yds, a high stile of, first, stone steps then a conventional wood stile above the steps, led into another large field.

The long grass in this field had been recently cut and was left spread out to dry before the harvest. 

This unique stile boasts a safety feature to prevent unsteady old men from plunging over the bridge parapet into the canal.

Here is another unusual if not unique stile, with a spring loaded gate. This stile caused some difficulty, du to the narrow gap between the walls on either side It caused boots to get stuck between the walls, with not enough room to turn round. I'm sure any passing stranger, watching the antics of our group trying to cross this stile, would find it highly amusing. Happily there was no such person about, and we did finally all make it to the other side. The path ahead was only a short one and led into the small hamlet of Ollerton Fold, where we had arranged to meet Martin.

Martin was there waiting for us, but we couldn't find anywhere to sit, to have our dinner. John remembered passing a bench on the way into the hamlet, but to get to it. Oh no! we had to cross back over that troublesome stile. But perseverance and determination paid off.

After dinner Martin returned to his car, having first arranged to meet us for a brew at Brindle quarry. The rest of us set off across the fields for Withnell Fold.

                                Entering the lovely village of Withnell Fold.

            After passing through the village, we turned right into the Memorial Garden.

The village was initially built to house the mill workers at the 18th century paper mill. The stone cottages are still there and are much sought after, commanding high prices. The mill is now occupied by other businesses.

The landmark mill chimney was destined for demolition, but a campaign by local people, was successful in saving it.

           There now followed a short walk along the Leeds to Liverpool canal tow path.

Tall trees cast a dark shadow over half of the canal, but thankfully, we are on the sunny side.

                At the second bridge along we left the canal to head for Brindle quarry.

                       This is one sheep that will never make it to the dinner table.

To get onto this path, we had to get passed two of these horses that were standing guard over the gate. They must have had some mule in there ancestry as they refused to budge, but by one means or another we managed to get under or around them. Carrying on along the track which passed alongside the farm buildings we came to the road. Fatigue was setting in, so it was decided, instead of turning left to go to the quarry, we would turn right, back to Brindle,and from there drive to the quarry.

Martin was waiting for us when we got there.... No that's not him on the rock face 😅, Two young ladies and a man had got there before us and were engaging in there sport, which provided us with some interest as we had our brew.

After brew it's back to the car park and off home. An interesting walk but a bit hard on the knees an ankles.

DK