MONDAY 5th OCTOBER 2026 – Cheesden

Cheesden MONDAY 5th OCTOBER 2026

GREENMOUNT, KIRKLEES VALLEY, BURRS, GREENMOUNT

The damp Autumn Day didn’t deter 22 people coming on this short, circular walk through the Kirklees Valley Nature Reserve and Burrs Country Park back to Greenmount. Over 200 years ago, during the early part of the Industrial Revolution, both of these areas would be highly polluted industrial sites with the mill’s dependant on the waters of the Kirklees Brook or the Irwell River. Now they are a haven for wildlife, but full interest and of relics of times gone by.

After going down the Lines (Kirklees Trail) for a short distance we turned left down the tree lined, ancient lane called Shepherd Street before passing Tower Court. Having meandered on recent walks through the valley we made our way straight through and over the bridge passing Holcombe Hunt Kennels and the Kirklees Valley Wildlife Rescue Centre before going up the lane towards Brandlesholme Old Hall.

Once across the main road we took the footpath through the fields to from direct to Burrs. Instead of turning left to the Centre we turn right towards the ‘Water Wheel,’ one of the 3 Sculptures in Burrs which are probably the best ones on the Irwell Valley Sculpture trail, a 30 mile trail, from Salford to the source of the Irwell.

After going under the railway bridge, we followed the Irwell to the centre at Burrs. Here we had our ‘Coffee Break’.

Returning to Greenmount we passed 2 more sculptures, the ‘Picnic Area’, a human scale mouse trap, followed by the Stone Cycle with stones originally quarried for the construction of a bridge. We continued following the banks of the Irwell, then onto the main path passing the impressive high weir.

Continuing the path between the Irwell and Castlesteads, a pre-Roman settlement, we followed the main path to Summerseat. After crossing the railway lines we continued up Woodrow, crossing fields, Longsight Road, and back up Brandlesholme Road to the Old School.