Haslingden Grane
There is a tendency to regard the countryside as a place of peace and quiet where one can escape from the pressures of modern living. Yet it was not so long ago when the rural scene was one of work and industry and a very busy place. The deserted landscape of the Grane Valley is a good example - this area once supported 1,000 people - farming, handloom weaving and quarrying. Now it is the realm of sheep and curlew, and of course walkers.
Start: Visitors Centre Car park: Clough Head.
From junction 5 M65 take the A6177 towards Haslingden. After 5 Km or 3 miles turn left onto the visitors' centre car park.
Distance: 9½ Km or 5½ miles
Time: 2½ - 3½ hours
Terrain: An easy to moderate walk made more demanding after wet weather when paths become very muddy.
Map: OS Explorer 287 West Pennine Moors
Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette
1.Car Park to Duke of Wellington: (6 Km or 4 miles: 1½ - 2 hours)
Take the concessionary path that starts to the left of the visitors centre.
After passing through a strip of woodland it begins to ascend the rough pasture beyond. Keep ahead at a kissing gate
onto the steeper fellside to reach the Rossendale Way. (RW) This long distance path provides a convenient handrail for the greater part of the route, but do not worry you will not be walking its entire 72 Km/45 mile round, just two small sections of it. Turn left onto the RW. Though well used and obvious this is not what would be called a manicured path. Wet weather reduces parts of it to a boggy quagmire. Follow it as best you can past a conifer plantation. 10 minutes or 600 metres after joining it, the RW turns left, crosses a wooden stile and drops down to Grane Road.
Across these pastures the footpath is not so distinct but by following the direction of the signpost you will arrive at the road in a little under 300 metres.
With care cross the road and turn left. In a short distance pick up the way again to turn right into rough pasture.
After 150 metres follow the RW as it turns right.
The scene opens out for a while unenclosed by woods or walls. In 300 metres the RW turns left and soon begins its gentle descent towards Calf Hey Reservoir.
Entering an area of marsh grass the track is not always easy to discern, but frequent waymark posts will assist you as the RW reaches the first of many ruined buildings.
These reflect the fact that this part of the valley was far more populous than it is now. Passing an information board close to a ruined gable
the RW drops towards a gully close to another substantial ruin. Across it, the RW follows the side of a plantation before entering it. Keep on the RW as you go through a stretch of mixed woodland. Over a wooden footbridge bear right.
Once clear of the woods you will find yourself on the steep sided slopes below Musbury Heights. Views open out down the valley. Keep ahead passing the end of Calf Hey Reservoir and walking above Ogden Reservoir. 1.6 Km or 1 mile from the woods fork left off the RW close by a small stream.
The natural line appears to cross the dam end of the reservoir but there is no public access at that point. Keep ahead on the path. After passing a curious relic of a long disused railway that once serviced the mines on Musbury Heights
turn left through a wooden gate and drop to a stile. Passing the end of Holden Wood Reservoir on your right follow the path as it skirts around a rather monolithic utility building on its right side, to lead you up to Grane Road. The Duke of Wellington is a short distance along the road to the left.
Along a narrow path drop steeply towards the south east corner of Ogden Reservoir.
2. Duke of Wellington to Clough Head:(3½ Km or 2m: 1 - 1½ hours)
Retrace your steps towards Haslingden. Opposite the footpath from Holden Wood turn left onto a farm track.
Keep ahead through Leys End farmyard and its noisy dogs. The footpath beyond crosses a stile
and then diagonally traverses pasture to reach a junction of tracks.
Turn left taking the metalled lane as it bends right leading up to Cloud Hill Farm. Beyond the farm keep ahead on a footpath as it crosses two large pastures to reach once again the Rossendale Way. Turn left. In 800 metres or12mins the Way turns sharply left. Follow it downhill to the edge of a quarry, before it turns right and then edges around the large Jamestone Quarry with its numerous warnings.
The quarry is an impressive and active operation.
The Haslingden quarry has provided stone much prized for pavements and has been used in no less a place than Trafalgar Square. So there you have it; the streets of London are paved with … Haslingden sandstone.
In another 15 minutes reach a footpath junction.
Turn left and walk down along a recently laid path to a metal kissing gate. Keep ahead with an enclosed plantation on the right to reach another metal gate on the right.
Go through this to arrive back at the car park in a few more minutes.
The Lord Wellington
The Lord Wellington is a 'carvery' pub. A plate of good quality meat, a yorkshire pudding and as much potato and veg as you can eat. At £3.50 there can be no complaints. We found the pub to be comfortable and welcoming with the staff particularly friendly and helpful. The only downside is that they don't serve cask ales!