EAST CHESHIRE RAMBLERS

●● COUNTRY parks and cotton mills on Ramblers’ route, by who led the walk.

INDUSTRIAL heritage is all around us in north west England and frequently encountered on East Cheshire Ramblers walks.

A recent example was a ten-mile route that started from Etherow Country Park and visited Broad Mills Heritage Site, both of which are former textile works sites and are now country parks.

Early in the 19th century, Thomas Andrew built a dye works and calico printing business at Compstall. A spinning mill, weaving sheds and bleach works were added later, continuing in operation until the 1960s.

Meanwhile, a cotton spinning mill, bleaching and dye works were developed at Broad Mills which developed under various ownerships, including a carpet factory and saw mill until 1949, when they were destroyed by fire. After following the south shore of Etherow Lake to the weir, the 17 walkers continued steadily uphill through Ernocroft Wood until we reached our refreshment stop, high above Chisworth. Looking north, our vantage point revealed distant Broadbottom viaduct and the Longdendale Valley before descending to Sandy Lane and through a woodland pretty with bluebells and quiet lanes to Warhurst Fold.

We then crossed the River Etherow to reach Broad Mills. Following lunch beside a tranquil old mill pond, we trekked uphill once more and past the remains of some old dye vats at Hodgefold, then on to Leylands Farm and Botham’s Hall and through Back Wood to Apple Street before returning to the start point via Mortin Clough.

For further details, go to ramblerseastcheshire. org.uk.