Hollingworth Hall Moor RFM Blue Line Walking with Peter

 

Hollingworth Hall Moor

RFM Blue Line 

Walking with Peter

11/09/25

We started this walk at our usual 8 in the morning on a day that threatened heavy and prolonged showers. Peter was prepared, dressed in full waterproofs, coat and leggings and his backpack had its cover in place. I had shorts, light fleece jacket and t-shirt. I did have my coat in my back pack. On the way over the hill along the A628 the dark clouds had ominously hovered over the route we were to take.

We parked close to Arnfield Res and set off up the lane next to the res. There were a few dog walkers around. As ever every one said hello. Even on this side of the hill the locals are Peninne friendly.

Reaching Arnfield Lane we turned left above the res. At this point we encountered a guy sat on a perch with a bird watching scope set up. We had a chat and he said that though he hadn't seen anything special there were plenty of birds around.

In the field on the other side of the lane, opposite the birdwatcher, this curious black cow took note of everything we said. Just along from the cow this relaxed bull was communing with another young black cow. Have you ever seen such a gentle chilled looking bull?

We followed a flock of Meadow Pipits over Arnfield Low Moor, a wonderful calm space so close to the villages and the busy A628.

The air travellers passed low over this wonderful place. The flights were very frequent, loud and low as they lined up to land at Manchester airport.

This bridge over Ogden Brook looks ancient and Peter remembers seeing photos of it in the guides but I honestly cannot find any further info.

The sunny weather was lovely and the views back towards Longdendale familar but from a different angle. Pylons feature heavily in this walk and if you accept their presence you can appreciate their grandeur.

As we crossed behind Lees Hill , High and Low Swinshaw Reservoirs came into view. This is quite a wild landscape but the Lancashire towns and villages are always in view in the distance.

Wildbank Hill above the lower res will feature in a future walk and looks like an inviting hill. Bet the views from the top are great, if you like Manchester.

In the distance (foreshortened by my camera's telephoto lens), Manchester sits in the sunshine.

The walk changed character as we left the moors and followed Brush Road past Brush Res trees and lanes becoming the norm.

We crossed the foot of Walkerwood res and headed up the lane at the bottom of Cock Wood. 

Millbrook and the hills of Harridge Pike dominated our view over the res from the ever rising lane.

Eagle eyed Peter spotted the tower on the right on the top of the hill on the left. This is Hartshead pike Tower built in the 1860s to commemorate the wedding of the Prince of Wales to Princess Alexandra of Denmark, and to honour Queen Victoria on the occasion of her son’s marriage.

As we turned the corner below Wild Bank Hill we started to get close up views of Manchester.

Its not everyones cup of tea but I like seeing cities from hills. Peter is less enthusiastic. It must be the geographer in me.

We passed this old re-purposed farm building as we crossed the top of Mottram Rise.

A dog walking guy with a huge beard and thick Lancashire accent stopped and had a chat regarding this decaying building with its stone and slate roof. He was be-moaning the fact the developers wouldn't let a local chap have the building to refurbish but just kept it and let it deteriorate. We sympathised. Told you even Lancastrian walkers are friendly.

As this huge circular walk headed back to Hollingworth and Tintwhistle we started to see the familar hills towards Kinderscout. Most of the hills on the horizon we have already traversed.

We passed some horse training, it looked like a heavy horse so they were probably teaching it to pull a cart. The stained glass window in this house was really colourful but it wasn't a converted chapel.

More good views and an ancient lane. What a pleasant way to spend a Thursday morning.

These 2 views toward Thorncliffe Hall and the approach road to it honestly are only a small distance from Manchester. It looks and felt like a rural idyll.

We crossed the field and into the edge of Hollingworth.

Another lane this time over Hollingworth Brook and on to Tintwhistle. We stopped and chatted to an old couple who were being followed by a wild cat that they said always followed them on their walks. It looked like a clean well fed cat so I wonder if it was a neighbour's cat who just liked to go for a walk with the pair. Who knows but it was a curiosity.

Finally we reached the A628 and came across this architectural curiosity called Arnfield Towers which is now used to house young people facing a variety of challenges. Great building couldn't help comparing it to the Adam's family home.

Back to the car and away. It never rained and Peter was pretend angry that he had wore waterproofs for the entire walk. He suggested that may have been the reason it did not rain. Maybe...you never know.

This was quite a long walk but the going in many places was good so we averaged an impressive 2.56 mph. The ascent was a respectable 1382 feet but over several hills so never really felt hilly.

I loved this adventure around this new area and am looking forward to the future walks in the area. The blue line just gets longer and longer.

OS Link

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/28712336/hollingworth-hall-moor-rfm-blue-line?lat=53.47036&lon=-1.98402&zoom=13.7288&style=Leisure&type=2d