Walking

Walking

A number of Greater Manchester Rights of Way transverse the site.

There are many trails across the park and so much to discover nearby that you may need more than one visit. Outwood is home to numerous walking paths throughout the park, taking you off on different directions as you enjoy the natural beauty and splendour. There’s plenty to see and do both inside and out of the park, with the surrounding areas enjoying a deep, rich history. Here’s some of the things you can expect to see in and around Outwood.

Radcliffe’s Gothic Church

One of the walking routes into Outwood actually begins in Radcliffe as the Radcliffe, Outwood Trail and Canal-side walk takes in some of the most impressive scenery. Starting on Spring Lane, your hike towards Outwood takes you through the town and past the beautiful Parish of St Thomas and St John. A Grade II listed church since 1966, this gothic design takes centre stage in the town and was consecrated in 1864. The church is still in use today, but with modern technology, services can now be streamed directly into the home!

Interesting Fact: The cost of building the church back in the 1800s was £7,273, with the tower coming to a rather modest £1,800. Translated to today’s money, the whole project would cost over £600,000 to complete.

The Mystery of the Vanishing Power Station

Nestled amongst the Outwood trees and just a few hundred metres from the banks of the Irwell sits an electrical transformer station. Although it has links to a former sub-station in Outwood, it is suspected to not be the original, which opened in 1905 and closed in 1959. Historical maps and records indicate the original power station was further along the river and to the north than the current transformer, but mysteriously, there’s no trace of it to be found. Was it demolished or has nature reclaimed it? Did it exist at all? A mystery waiting to be solved and amateur sleuths are recommended to bring wellies and a magnifying glass.

Interesting Fact: The original station, opened by the Earl of Derby, was the first in the UK to transmit electricity by bare electrical conductors.

Sculpture Spotting

German sculptor Ulrich Ruckriem created ten huge monoliths as part of the Irwell Sculpture Trail, which are set in three locations throughout the park. A group of seven sit together, another two mark the entrances to the old colliery while the largest of the ten is located on the site of the old railway line. There’s also the Trinity sculpture to find and three more, The Dig, The Lookout and Wet Earth Sculptures are situated in nearby Clifton Country Park.

Find The Irwell Weir

Are you up for a challenge? There’s a weir on the Irwell that passes through Outwood Country Park. It’s a beautiful fall that curves perfectly around the river with a constant cascade of water. You should be able to view it safely from a nearby bridge that leads to a public access path, where you can view the fall in its splendour. Can you find it?

Interesting Fact: It is believed a tunnel once existed somewhere around the weir or maybe even under it. No clear evidence can be found today, but what would such a tunnel be used for?

Discover Ringley Village

South of Outwood is the picturesque Ringley Village, which can be accessed through the nearby Ringley Fairy Woods. It’s home to an old stone bridge that was built in 1677 at a cost of £500, and consists of two arches across the Irwell, with a third over the towpath. The bridge was awarded Grade II listed status in 1986 and replaced a wooden bridge that was destroyed by floods in 1673. Ringley Village is also home to a stand-alone clock tower that formed part of previous church – the clock is now all that remains.

Fun Fact: Ringley Village still has the original stocks that were used to incarcerate criminals in Medieval times. Have kids behaved or do they need a time out?

Fancy A More Challenging Walk?

Outwood is a link to two of the most challenging walks across Bury. If you’re looking for an additional test or simply enjoy going for long hikes with incredible scenery and some great points of interest, then either or both of these two trails is for you.

Old steam crane – Meccano Bridge Loop from Radcliffe

The first walk is an intermediate challenge that starts at Radcliffe bus station and joins with the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal. You’ll stay with the canal as it crosses the Irwell, then onto Ringley Road until you meet Outwood at the 4.5 mile stage. Don’t worry, you’ve only got another mile and a half to go until you cross the viaduct and back into Radcliffe. Although it’s a flat course for most of it, you’ll need a good level of fitness to complete it.

Along the walk are two points of interest. The first is the old steam crane, a Grade II listed building that gained its status in 2011. The crane is believed to have been built at some point between 1875 and 1884 by Thomas Smith and Sons. It’s a reminder of Radcliffe’s industrial past and the part the town played during the Industrial Revolution.

Continue along the route and you’ll meet the Meccano Bridge which is exactly what you think it is – a bridge, literally made of Meccano. The bridge crosses the now dry canal, although it is hoped that the basin will be refilled at some point in the future. Nearby are some benches and a picnic table, all made from Meccano. If the basin is filled as planned, the chances are that these will not be the last Meccano structures we’ll see.

Clifton Country Park – Meccano Bridge Loop from Bank Top

The most challenging of the two, this walk is rated as difficult and, at a length three times the distance of the Old Steam Crane Loop, you’ll need a very good level of fitness to complete it.

Starting at Black Lane in Radcliffe, you’ll head towards and skirt around Elton reservoir before heading back into the town. From there, you’ll bypass Outwoos Viaduct, instead heading following the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal until you reach a footbridge that crosses the Irwell into Outwood. The route takes you across the Outwood Trail and deep into the trees, then across Ringley Road and into Clifton Country Park where only now will you join the Outwood Trail. You’ll then cross the Irwell and follow the river through the park until you reach the Meccano Bridge. The course gradually inclines at this point but hang in there, it’s only another three miles to the finish.

In addition to the Meccano Bridge and Old Steam Crane are six other points of interest. You’ll get a good view of the weir that sits on the curve of the Irwell and the monoliths deep within Outwood. You’ll also pass Hurst Wood and pond in Clifton Country Park before reaching Clifton viaduct. Unlike Outwood, you get a spectacular view of this viaduct and its arches, perfect for your social media pages, if you have the energy once the walk has finished!

Further down is Cascade, a small, stepped waterfall where Herons and Cormorants can often be seen. The next port of call is Rose Leventon’s The Dig, which is also part of the Irwell Sculpture Trail. You can also search for Tim Norris’s The Lookout and Stephen Charnock’s Wet Earth Sculptures, which are on the site of Clifton’s former colliery.

Passing through Ringley Village, you’ll get to see the Old Ringley Bridge, cross the Meccano Bridge and pass the Old Steam Crane, before it’s back through the town to your starting point.

If you enjoyed these walks and are looking for other challenges, there’s more available here.