Bury: Passing the Victoria Wood Statue

Opposite Bury Library (above), I passed the Victoria Wood statue, which was nowhere near as bad as I'd been led to believe:

There was also a noticeboard alongside the statue, briefly summarising Victoria Wood's life story:

It would appear that Victoria got out of Bury at an early age and made a big success of her life, of course.

Through Summerseat to Ramsbottom

After passing through Nangreaves and the beautiful Gothic-looking church near the top of the Walmersley area of Bury:

I went down Bass Lane (dodging cars all the time) and landed in Summerseat, with the big building on the river looking great below a clear blue sky: 

Having just stepped foot into Summerseat, I remembered the old country lane(s) through to Ramsbottom:

And was soon passing through what seemed to have once been Nuttall Village:

If it hadn't been for the notice board, I would never have known.

And following the river, I passed a flight of steps:

And reached Nuttall Park:

Which brought back memories of playing football as a schoolboy in the late 1970s.

And in Ramsbottom, I had a rest near the Civic Hall:

I was soon to return to Bury and couldn't help but feel that while Bury town centre suffers from obvious, modern urban, demographic problems, Ramsbottom, Stubbins, and Edenfield still offer a taste or echo of old/traditional Lancashire, and this is why I like these places.

Stubbins: Fields in All Directions

Happily, from behind the quarry at Stubbins, I could see fields in all directions:

Sometimes, sadly, with wind turbines on top of hills:

In the opposite direction, I could see Holcombe Hill which I'd explored the day before: 

Away from the quarry, the countryside started to have real charm.

I was ready to head towards Nangreaves; the top of Walmersley; Summerseat; and finally back to Ramsbottom.

Stubbins: Tree-Veiled Quarry

 My second day camping in Stubbins, after passing the train station in Ramsbottom:

I made my way to Stubbins to see, through a veil of trees, a huge quarry:

Must say that it wasn't a pretty sight:

Especially up close:

So I was glad to gain some distance from the place:

Stone Path on Holcombe 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.