Tintwhistle Low Moor RFM Blue Line Walking with Peter

 

Tintwhistle Low Moor 

RFM Blue Line 

Walking with Peter

26/09/25

This is one of those walks that on the surface just connects a couple of other blue line walks. The proximity of the busy A628 does not promise to be too conducive to a relaxing ramble. We parked quite close to the remains of a well dressing long passed its best.

Anyway the weather was cool but very bright with cloud hugging the hills opposite. That is the upland of Bleaklow that we have traversed many times but today it is the backdrop for the first part of the walk and it looks great.

A gang of young sheep were around the farm buildings at Townhead farm but they scarpered as we approached. Like many teenagers they were curious but wary. It was a fun way to start the day. 

I wasn't looking forward to the climb as I have only just recovered from a bad cold but the way to the moor top looked very inviting. That early morning autumnal light was exquisite.

Across the valley the sun on the clouded hill gave us a dramatic view as we climbed the hill,

The way up was easy underfoot but quite steep.

The higher we got the better the views.

The woods in Didsbury Intake were steeply falling down the valley and the late season toadstools were beautiful if probably deadly.

The atmospheric drama across the valley and views down the slope were captivating. I was forgetting the presence of the A628 as this walk started to deliver view upon view. 

We speculated what was the purpose of this really good lane but as we approached the quarry the reason became obvious.

The valley below with the reservoirs and the dramatic hills opposite plus the moor in front of us were transforming this mundane walk into a spectacular one. The last stretch out of the valley onto the moor where the lane ended at the quarry was a bit hairy as the rocky path had a long drop off on the right and much care was needed to avoid pitching over the quarry edge.

The views from the edge leading to Lads Leap were just gorgeous.

We sat and had a coffee at the top of the walk with this view of a stream hanging over the valley below.

Retracing our steps to the point the path split to the right should allow us to cross Robinson's Moss but a fence stymied that idea and we had to re-route to the top of the quarry and hope there was a path above the quarry to connect to our planned route. 

The views to our left as we retraced our route to the quarry top were beautiful.

Luckily there was a path along the top of the quarry guarded by a fence. It wasn't an easy path and I had a forward fall and Peter got a foot stuck between rocks. I was uninjured but Peter tweaked his knee. Hopefully it will be OK.

As we rounded the bluff the Manchester skyline filled the far horizon, not Peter's favourite view but I still like the view of cities from hill tops.

 Below us on our left we could see Townhead Farm and the lane we had taken to start to ascend the hill. It is always good to look down upon an earlier part of the walk, gives it perspective.

As we descended down the hill towards Arnfield we passed this curiosity. On the map it is marked as a reservoir. The small defunct res can just be made out in the left photo and as we passed it this line of concrete posts leads to the base of the res so presumably there had been a pipe atop the posts. Lot of engineering for a very small water tank.

It was a very pleasant grassy descent down Arnfield valley. Up to this point we had seen no one but for some reason we met several groups of walkers ascending the route. Presumably as there is not much choice except doing a similar circuit as we were but in reverse. As Peter said it was like a bus trip had turned up...weird

We talked with every one we passed and they were all happy and glad to talk. I particularly liked the couple with the cool baby in sun glasses being carried rucksack style by daddy.

We reached Arnfield Lane, above Arnfield Res, and set off to the left towards Tintwhistle. We had traversed this lane in the other direction on an earlier walk. The Meadow Pippits were still in abundance.

The cobbled lane took us to the war memorial at Tinwhistle so we stopped and had a look around. It was then a short trip along the lane to our cars. We passed a funeral in progress, they were just about to move the coffin from the hearse into the chapel. We passed with hats in hands and tried to keep out of the way of the mourners on this very narrow lane.

This was a walk that promised little but delivered a huge amount. The hill was a lot higher and steeper than expected. The views were fantastic and the atmospheric cloud shrouded hills great. The walk just got sunnier as we progressed. My lungs seemed to clear as we battled up the hill banishing the remnants of my cold.  The only down side was Peter's injury, hopefully just a minor one. 

This is a really good walk and I would recommend it to anyone.

Not the longest or quickest but challenging and rewarding. Love it.

OS Link

https://explore.osmaps.com/route/28921693/tintwhistle-low-moor-rfm-blue-line-?lat=53.47399&lon=-1.96867&zoom=15.5789&style=Leisure&type=2d