Saturday 27th December 2025

Saturday 27^th December 2025

Community Countryside Festive Walk

The last walk of the session and it was a record!! Seventy-Eight walkers filled the Old School yard before heading down Barndlesholme Road and taking a diversion along Vernon Road to look at the gargoyles on the folly built by John Turner in the 18^th century. Once across Brandlesholme Road we headed for Tower Farm, another historical building, this one built in 1840 by Joshua Knowles. After turning left, we crossed Kirklees Brook at the site of Tottington Mill, owned at one time by Joshua Knowles.

 

Following one of the many trails through the wood we soon arrived at the bottom of Kirklees Road and the Wishing Stone, said to be part of one of the local mills. After making our wishes we carefully walked down the cobbled track and across the bridge before passing the Holcombe Hunt Kennels on our left and the Wild Animal Sanctuary on our right. Once past the sanctuary we turned right into Kingsbury Wood and walked down to Garside Heys Road, where we turned right again and made our way back to Kirklees Brook.

 

 

After crossing the second bridge, over the brook, we started to climb out of the valley and into Kirklees Wood, where we continued to walk along some of the many paths that travers the wood until we joined the Kirklees Trail.

Once on the trail we turned right and headed for our festive refreshments, of mulled wine and mince pies, served at the bottom of Laurel Street, in Tottington. By this time the sun had come out, and we spent some time meeting new and old friends before walking into Tottington Town Meadow to admire the mural dedicated to the heroism of George Stanley Peachment VC. The mural was unveiled in September 2022, to commemorate George’s bravery in saving the life of his commanding officer, Captain Dubs. The injuries sustained by George were fatal, but his captain lived. The mural shows King George V presenting the Victoria Cross to George Peachment’s mother posthumously and she is depicted in the mural with red roses round her. At the age of 18, George was the youngest person to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

After leaving the mural it was just a short walk, along Kirklees Trail, back to Greenmount, having covered 3.4 festive miles.