Holcombe Hill: Stone Flags Cutting Through the Moorland

 After doing the moorland path walk again:

 

Looking down through a light fog:

I decided to take a look at what lies behind Peel Tower, being well impressed with the stone flags that cut through the drenched moorland:

As a bloke noted, passing by: the stone flags "certainly made life easier".

In general, I was just looking for decent openings for future walks:

For maybe next year, if I end up on Holcombe Hill again.

Holcombe Hill has always been one of my favourite places in Ramsbottom/Bury, but I've never really explored what lies beyond.

Ramsbottom: From the Duck Pond to Holcombe Hill

After a few days in Bury, I got bored stiff and went for a couple of days on on a campsite in Stubbins:

One day, I walked to nearby Ramsbottom, and from the duck pond:

And an almost hidden hotel (that I'd never seen before):

I went up the Rake:

Passing the beautiful black church and an old horse trough (I guess):

Near the Shoulder & Mutton:

Not long after, I was at the foot of Holcombe Hill:

Steadily climbing up:

The place is now deeply shrouded in trees which makes for a good walk.

And of course, it was good to reach the top, with its great views all around:

Birtle: Secret Garden

 Up Birtle, lies a path to a Secret Garden:

Back in Bury, I made my way to this place:

With the pond taking centre stage:

Rough-looking trees abound in this place:

Luxurious colours green, too, brought on by excessive rain:

Here, you feel in another world:

The back exit leads onto a rugged, horse-riding track:

Had to go back to the Secret Garden path:

To taste its late summer greenery:

Some more:

First saw this place with my late brother many years ago, as teenagers.

Cossall: Through the Fields to St. Catherine's Church

The day before, I'd been shown round the inside of St. Catherine's church by a very kind man and woman, chatting about how it had helped to inspire pivotal scenes from D.H. Lawrence's The Rainbow.

During the chat, my kind hosts advised me to visit St. Catherine's again but this time by walking through the fields:

As it would again give me a sense of why Lawrence loved this area so much (during his courtship with Louie Burrows - often viewed as the inspiration for Ursula Brangwen, the heroine of The Rainbow and Women in Love).

When I reached St. Catherine's the second time round, outside, I found myself noticing other things such as a small wooden cross:

And the Yew trees:

Which seemed to form a boundary separating the church from Church Cottage where Louie Burrows had lived, all those years ago.

Yeah, it was satisfying to visit this church a second time:

To help visualise key scenes from The Rainbow (e.g. Anna laughing at Will's singing during a church service, and Tom Brangwen giving Anna away to Will on their wedding day).

Upon leaving St. Catherine's this time round:

I spent more time observing the Willoughby Almhouses:

Marvelling at how much rich English culture and history Cossall contains, as a small village.

Walking back up the lane away from the heart of Cossall, I took my last shot of St. Catherine's church from a distance:

It was a pleasure to have visited the place twice. 

Lawrence Country: Nottingham and Erewash Canals

In and around Cossall village (famous for sites that inspired D.H. Lawrence's The Rainbow) recently, I enjoyed walking at the side of the canal, imagining that Lawrence must've done the same during his courtship with Louie Burrows.

Have just discovered that it is Nottingham Canal that passes through the Cossall area:

While the Erewash Canal runs through Ilkeston nearby:

Much prefer a canal making its way through the countryside, it must be said.