RAMSBOTTOM RAMBLE 6+ Miles

Quintessential Quartet :- Anthony, Vic, John W, Danny.

After parking outside St Mary's Hall in Rawtenstall we set off to follow the River Irwell down to Ramsbottom.

The footpath to Ramsbottom started next to the station of the "East Lancashire railway" . Vic is all set for a tiger hunt in "East Bengal" 😀

Our walk started from the Rawtenstall end of the East Lancashire Railway where the footpath initially followed the side of the tracks.

and carried "Doggy" instructions.

and some rather fancy gates into the railway property.

Although the walk was mainly through fields and woodlands there were constant reminders of the areas industrial past.

Your writer hopes that many of these incredible chimneys can be preserved as reminders of past and sometimes possibly hard times in the industrial North or even as architectural wonders in their own right.

Just beyond the mill was a picnic area . A little too early for coffee break and the rough hewn stone benches and "Seats" were more Neanderthal than Meanderthal.

Beyond the outskirts of Rawtenstall the path now followed the banks of the Irwell as it meandered towards The Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal.

Vic insisted on following the riverside footpath CLOSED as being unsafe. He was told that non of us would rush to his rescue if he fell into the river.

Here he is rejoining the SAFE path after NOT falling into the river. DARN !

Coffee time. John who had not brought a seat sat on the rocks and was soon covered in tiny ants. Quite harmless but exceptionally irritating. A real "Ants in yer pants" moment.

Think the railway is not too far away !

The presence of bright blue litter rather spoils this shot of a family of ducks

A little further along a dog walker was allowing her "Pack" to cool off in the river, By now it was VERY hot.

A HILL !! No-one mentioned hills as we set off 😲😲😲

Back on level ground where Danny has found something to photograph.

Is that a giant Dragonfly ? It's like a scene from "Jurassic Park"

"East Lancashire Railway" ? This stone seems to disagree.

The line used to be the "Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway "

A short conversation with a horse. Why not ?

With little grass left in the field the horse welcomed Danny's offerings.

Somewhat further than half way through our walk we arrived at this small "Station". Ideal for lunch.

We were not alone in considering this to be an ideal lunch spot. A rather overheated (orange overalls) railway workers also sheltered from the sun in the "Hut" as they termed it

In the fields on the other side of the rail line the sheep were also very sensible.

These are not woolly minded but very with it sheep...... and Cool !

What are these three reprobates staring at ? Not me... that's for sure.

But this... A book swap cupboard disguised as a phone box.

This little hamlet (Irwell Vale) was home to some keen gardeners, Some obviously fans of container planting.

The next section of the walk was to follow a rather narrow and overgrown footpath which was occasionally only inches (centimetres) away from steep drops into the river, We proceeded with caution.

As I have already mentioned reminders of an industrial past kept popping up.

This was on the bank close to a weir...... machinery from a mill perhaps ?

We next arrived at a bridge which would take us across the river and back alongside the rail track.

Quick fellas get across that Bridge

WHY ?

Because....

Once over the bridge we turned right and after passing under the railway we found ourselves in open countryside again.

then someone said " What have you done to your arm Anthony?"

"No idea" said Anthony

And then " What have you done to YOUR arm John ?"

"No idea" said John.

Several of our walkers take blood thinning medication and even the slightest scratch can produce a copious amount of blood. Probably caught their arms on an innocuous bit of a bramble as we pushed along the narrow footpath.

At about this point in our walk Vic's shorts decided to make a break for it and part company with him. Much tugging and adjustment took place. You will be relieved dear reader that NO photographs were taken of this unseemly pantomime.

Not far to go now so.....A final, heat induced ,rest to finish drinks

Suddenly Danny sits up

"Somethings coming

don't know what

What it is

But it is

Gonna be........

.........Horses

and rather over friendly horses at that.

(song lyrics from "West Side Story")

Ooh ! and look more teasels. It must be teasel time.

Out of the horsey field and into the attractive hamlet of "Chatterton" where they farm miniature dinosaurs.

I asked a young boy coming out of the house were they his. "No They're mi dad's" Typical !

Once past Chatterton we encountered more historical industrial artefacts.

and some agricultural artefacts. These stone walls are very similar to those forming the "vaccaries" in Bronte country.

Approaching Ramsbottom station now but what is that notice on the wall ?

RAMSBOTTOM...... BLACKPUDDING LOBBING ????

Could we be anywhere other than the North of England ? Indeed Lancashire. Bury, of black pudding fame, is at the end of the line.

Ramsbottom Station. The end of our walk but not quite the end of our day.

Here we once again met the delightful station master (Mistress ?) Who on our last visit four years ago told us there was no cafe but insisted on making us all a cup of tea or coffee.