Wednesday 18th March 2026.

Wednesday 18^th March 2026.

Second of 9 walks to complete the West Pennine Way (WPW) Turton Tower to Belmont.

On a glorious spring morning fifteen walkers set out from Turton Tower, to complete the second of the route on the West Pennine Way (WPW). We began by following the way markers over the railway bridge up to the Witton Weaver Way where we turned right and walked to the first gate on our left and started the climb to the trig point on Cheetham Close, where we had glorious views around the West Pennies, that included views of the route ahead to Belmont.

Once off the moors we made our way down to Dimple Hall that was built in 1668, during the reign of King Charles II and upgraded during the Georgian period. In 1966 the owner divided the house into two homes After crossing Blackburn Road, we headed passed Delph Reservoir and onto Longworth Road where we turned left and walked down as far as Higher Critchley Fold Farm and followed the WPW route into Longworth Clough. There were signs of spring everywhere with new growth on the trees.

At the end of the clough, we reached the Ornamental Reservoir, once used to provide water for the cotton mills. After viewing the reservoir we climbed out of the valley following the WPW to Belmont, where we sat on the wall of San Marino’s restaurant for an early lunch.

This was the end of the second section of the WPW route and from here we headed back to the start of the walk at Turton Tower. We began the return route by walking for a short distance along Belmont Road and turned left down the track to Greenhill Farm that eventually took us, back into Longworth Clough, where we retraced our route as far as the footbridge, over Eagley Brook. Once across the bridge we climbed out of the steep valley up to Longworth Road. Once across the road we made our way through Longworth Hall Plantation and back to Dimple where we walked along Cox Green Road turning left up the track to Whittle Hill Farm.

From here it was a short distance, across the golf course, passed Tor Barn to Turton Tower, having covered 12 energic miles.