Monday 3 November 2025 - GM Ringway Trail Stage 14a - Bromley Cross to Barrow Bridge

Descending to Eagley Brook

Sue and I walked this stage on 14 October with Rick and John, and Alan and Sheila. Paul and Jeanette were on holiday and now wanted to catch up (although Jeanette will have to wait until next year before doing some of the longer sections she missed due to injury). 

Anyway, we decided to split this fairly long stage into two easy days out, starting with just a 8km walk from Bromley Cross to Barrow Bridge. I wrote about our 14 October walk over the same ground here, so there's no need for repetition apart from a few of the annotated photos that I'll include with this diary entry. The colours have mellowed a little since our last visit.

We left home on a rainy morning, taking our time to get to Bromley Cross by soon after 11 o'clock, at which point the rain 'paused' until we got to Barrow Bridge. Very lucky!

Here are some pictures from the dull but dry day.

Soon after leaving Bromley Cross we passed the site of Birtenshaw Hall.
Click on the image for a better version and a detailed history

Building work on a steep slope by Birtenshaw Farm

Descending and crossing Eagley Brook

The path follows the course of Eagley Brook

En route to Eagley Mill on a dull day

Eagley Hall, and a restored Mill building

Fine gate posts at Dunscar

Friendly ponies

Pond near Dunscar

Small reservoir near Horrocks Fold, where I got navigationally confused for the second time!

There were numerous ginnels passing the edges of newish housing on the way to Smithills Hall

Starlings gathering in the trees by Smithills Open Farm

Pretty woodland in Smithills Country Park

Splitgill Mushroom - Schizophyllum commune
and there were many more - but Sue was absent...

Approaching Smithills Hall

Smithills Hall - luckily we had brought our own lunch

More autumn colours

Crossing Smithills Dean Road

The chimney at Barrow Bridge, near where we waited at a turnaround point
 for the 526 bus back to Bolton before 3pm

Here's our route - 8.4km with 120 metres ascent, taking rather less than 3 hours.

Stage 14b - Barrow Bridge to Blackrod, will be undertaken on Monday 10 November. Flier is below, together with the flier for stage 16.

GM Ringway Trail - Stage 14 - Bromley Cross to Blackrod in two walks.
3/11 - meet at Bromley Cross at 11:12, - 10:43 from Victoria. Walk to Barrow Bridge, approx 3 hours. Return via frequent trains from Bolton.
10/11 meet in Bolton at 11:08, - 10:50 from Piccadilly. Walk to Blackrod via Winter Hill, approx 4 hours. Return by hourly train - probably 15:42.

Wednesday 19 November:
GM Ringway Trail - Stage 16 - Wigan to Leigh. Meet at Wigan Station at 11:07 for this sixteenth 17km stage of the 20 stage circuit of Greater Manchester.

Arrive on the 10:27 from Victoria.
Return to Manchester by regular V1 bus service from Leigh.