Monday 9th March 2026
The first of nine circular walks to complete the West Pennine Way.
On a very misty morning fourteen walkers set out from Greenmount to complete the first section of the West Pennine Way (WPW). We followed our distinctive orange way markers into Hollymount and down to Brook Bottoms. At this point the route should turn left and head up the steep valley to Turton Road, but when we checked this section, we decided that the footpath up to the main road was too dangerous. Instead, we carried straight on in the direction of Hawkshaw and once over the ladder stile we turned left and headed up to Affetside. After stopping for our morning break, we joined the WPW markers and followed them down to Bradshaw Road.
Affetside
Jumbles
Misty morning
Once across the road we continued along the route into the Jumbles Nature Reserve and crossed over the concrete bridge and continued up to Turton Tower. This was the end of the first section of the WPW.
Turton Tower
After eating our lunch, in the gardens, we began our return journey. It was just a short distance along the track, at the back of the tower to Station Road, were we turned right and walked into Chapeltown. After crossing the road, at the Chetham Arms, we walked to the football pitches on Tower Street which are believed to be among the oldest in the world still in active use. Originally the home of Turton FC (formed in 1871), the site has been used by Old Boltonians AFC since 1952, who later purchased the land in 1970.
Heading to Top of Quarlton
After passing St Anne’s Church we headed into Turton Bottoms and followed the footpaths up to Pallet Farm, on Bury Road. Once across the road we continued along the footpaths to the hamlet of Top of Quarlton. From here we continued along familiar footpaths back to Greenmount having covered twelve misty miles.