Out Walk : Dunham Massey - 9th October 1997

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Out Walk : Whitworth - 8th October 2007

Our latest Outeverywhere was at Whitworth in Rossendale, just north of Rochdale.  I had learnt of the area through the Walks for Health project that I use to do at Groundwork Rossendale.  I ran this project for a good few years and did small various walks in the area and a couple around Whitworth.  By combining a few walks together created a walk for the walking group.

At least 3 walks were put together to create the whole walk itself.  First leg was brand new area across the Waingap moorland east of Whitworth.  The area had a new woodland planted by Groundwork a year before hand.  Don't know much about the Waingap area, it mostly moorland with a few farms dotted about, but after crossing here, we dropped down to St Bartholomew's Church. Founded in 16th century, the present church dates from 1980's after a fire gutted the 1840's church.  The present church is a much reduced size, but the tower is still original.

Cowm Reservoir was the next stop on our walk after passing through Whitworth town itself. The reservoir was built 1870's, supplying water for the area and beyond.  Small farms occupied the valley before hand, as well as a cotton mill at the top of the reservoir where remains can still be found.  Fragments of the former quarries and industry that occupied through out the valley and hills.  Following the trackway above the reservoir we found the lost village of Cow Clough, now simply rubble remains of this small community.

Maps above give you any idea the change to the area.  I do find history fascinating. Especially looking at how places have changed.

The track way above ran through the small village of Cow Clough leading back to Hall Fold which is the rough we took, before re-joining the former ralline through Whitworth Valley and also walked into Healey Dell Nature Reserve, another area which has lots of former history and tales, one being that the Dell is home to fairies and the chapel that resides there was built by the king of the fairies after he turned a coven of witches to stone.

It was really nice taking friends and my walking group on a walk around an area that I had found and thought was interesting.  Likely full of history I still don't know about.  Good reason to come and visit the place again in the future.

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