While out for a cycle ride through Bacup, Hebden Bridge, Burnley and Blackburn I noticed a blue plaque on the wall of this building in Bacup telling me that ‘The River Irwell runs secretly below you here. The bridge which once crossed the river where the old packhorse trail from Rawtenstall ran up Todmorden Road to Yorkshire, became the centre of town life. This building was once the George V Hotel and before that the Bull’s Head Inn.’ Cycling through Blackburn I noticed another plaque on a wall. This was a circular blue plaque on 331Audley Range. It shows the birth place of Alfred Wainwright (1907-1991), author and fell walker.

Bacup and the site of the old packhorse bridge.

331Audley Range, Blackburn, Lancs.

While out walking hear Haworth in West Yorkshire I called to see the ruin of Top Withins which is reputed to be the fictional location if ‘Wuthering Heights’ the Earnshaw home in Emily Bronte’s novel. The Bronte Society has fixed an information plaque by the door. It says that the building bore no resemblance to the house described in the novel but may have been in Emily’s mind when she wrote of the moorland setting of the heights.

Top Withens - Wuthering Heights

The Alcomden Stones nearby

After a couple of false starts during the week due to rain I managed to get a dry forecast to get out for a longer bike ride. Set of at 6:25am and firstly headed though Lower Darwen and up the climb over the Grane Road. There was a thin cover of cloud and little wind. I stopped briefly at the summit to watch a hot air balloon hanging over the Guide area. After the long easy descent into Haslingden I continued to Rawtenstall and once again stopped briefly to look at the wild flower garden which still looks very picturesque.

Rawtenstall colours

Vertical lock gate on the Rochdale canal at Todmorden.

The ride along the Rosendale Valley was very impressive with the steep sides of the valley. Bacup was much better than last week because then I was hit with a huge downpour of rain. This time the roads were dry. The climb up the A681 to Todmorden is straightforward but the long descent on the other side is a bit difficult in places due to the darkness created by overhanging trees and fairly tight blind bends. It was a relief to reach the railway bridge on the outskirts of Todmorden. I took the A646 to Hebden Bridge and would have liked to stop at the ‘Hot Stuff’ lay-bye café for a break but I realised I’d stupidly left my credit card and folding money at home.

Bike by the bridge in Hebden Bridge.

Interesting sun-dial feature in Hebden Bridge.

Steep climb into Haworth

I had a few pounds in change but thought I’d better hang on to it in case I needed a bus home. In Hebden Bridge I’d done 33miles so took a break in the town centre pedestrianised area. I enjoyed my sit down with a piece of fruit cake and a drink before setting off up the long climb via Nutclough and Pecket Well to the summit of Cock Hill at 434m (1426ft).

I descended then had the steep climb on a narrow cobbled street into Haworth. Branwell Brontë (1817-1848), the only son of the famous Bronte family, used to drink in the Black Bull so I decided to stop here for my second break for a bit more cake.

The Black Bull, Haworth.

Bridge in Blackburn

The weather had brightened up a bit but the wind was getting stronger and of course was directly in my face as I headed off through Stanbury and on to the Keighley Road just outside Colne. The return home was straightforward.

the route

the profile

I was walking home along the canal when I saw a crowd of people in the distance. A fire-engine and other emergency services vehicles were parked nearby. There were also several police officers around so I assumed there had been a major incident. Perhaps a plane had crashed into the canal or someone had drowned. No, a horse had fallen in and had to be rescued. Don’t worry its OK now. I wonder who’ll pick up the bill. We will! I’d have preferred free horse-burgers on the barbeque.

The weather forecast was uncertain but I decided to go out for a bicycle ride anyway. I was hit by two torrential downpours, one in Bacup and the other in Burnley. Fortunately I managed to find a bus shelter on each occasion to wait for the rain to ease.

Bacup in the rain.

The dirt covered car park at Wythburn adjacent to Thirlmere had a sign on the ticket machine saying Out of Order, Sorry for any inconvenience. I don’t think the people who were usually ripped off for parking and now don’t have to pay will think they’ve been inconvenienced. The charges are similar to those in towns but without any facilities. No toilets, no seats, no tarmac and no rubbish bins. So what is the charge for? To make money.

Set off at 6:45 for cycle ride. The Blackburn roads were strewn with broken glass as usual. I then headed for Accrington and it is interesting to note that all road signs are now for motorists only. My first main objective was Burnley but if I’d followed the Burnley signs I’d have finished up on the motorway! Keeping to the A679 I had a slight tail wind which I wasn’t happy about because that would mean my route home would be into a headwind. The main roundabout on the outskirts of Burnley was a constant stream of traffic and it took me ages to get across. Through the centre of Burnley I headed through Heasandford and up the long steep climb to Harle Syke. It was still rush hour time but the traffic was now quite light.

Pack Horse Inn, Widdop.

Heptonstall

Last Sunday I drove along the delightful road past Widdop and on to Hebden Bridge. I now wanted to experience it on the bike and it was all I’d hoped it would be; a wonderful bike route. I hardly saw a car all the way to Heptonstall. When in the car the signs divert motorists around Heptonstall but now I was on the bike I decided to have a look. The single cobbled road through the village is very picturesque and I stopped briefly to look at he ruins of the old Thomas A Beckett church before descending to Hebden bridge and the A646. About a mile from Todmorden I saw the caravan roadside café ‘Hot Stuff’ was open so I couldn’t resist stopping for a tuna & cheese melt for a very reasonable £2.50. Through Todmorden I turned right under the railway viaduct to take the A681 over to Bacup.

I stopped briefly to look at the Rochdale canal before setting off on the long climb up to the summit and the border with Lancashire. There I came to the ludicrous ‘Welcome to Lancashire a place where everyone matters’ sign. The slogan is totally meaningless because anyone with more than 2 brain cells knows that everyone doesn’t matter. In Bacup I crossed the roundabout and along the A681 through the Rossendale Valley and on to Rawtenstall. I stopped briefly to look at the magnificent wild flower garden then continued to Haslingden, Darwen and home.

'Hot Stuff' cafe near Todmorden

The wild flower garden at Rawtenstall.

the route

altitude profile

The Swaledale Museum events guide listed an interesting looking walk for this afternoon. Mining in Gunnerside Gill Swaledale and the leader was Roger Pettican. I joined the group of 25 in the Gunnerside car park and we set off just after 2pm in warm and slightly overcast weather. We walked up the east side of Gunnerside Beck until we reached a clearing where Roger explained the basic process of lead mining and preparing the ore ready for smelting. Further up the beck was another clearing which was the 1870s Sir Francis dressing floor. The majority of the 19th century work was funded by Sir George Denys and the various works were named after members of his family.

Roger describes how water power was used at the site of an old water wheel who's remains existed as late as the 1960s

Entrance to the Bunton level.

Further up we could see the actual Sir Francis lead mine level which was driven into the mountain in the 1870s. It was the first time that compressed air tool were used in a mine and one of the old air vessels could still be seen across the beck. The highest point of the walk was the entrance to the Bunton lead mine level. Those who were equipped were taken inside for a short and fascinating exploration of the first part of the tunnel. As we emerged the rain started and soon became torrential. It poured down all the way back to Gunnerside.

100m into the Bunton level. The picture was not taken with flash but by putting the camera on a tripod, opening the shutter for 10sec with a standard LED head torch pointing along the tunnel.

Went for drive out via Harle Syke, Widdop Reservoir & Hebden Bridge. Stopped to photograph the houses which were captured in the iconic picture by Denis Thorpe in 1978.

the Denis Thorpe 1978 image

my picture taken today.

Walked to Withnell Fold to an evening concert by the excellent Derrin Nauendorf.

Derrin Nauendorf at Withnell Fold.

The last time I was here the guest 'real ale' was cloudy. This time it was clear and very good.

Derrin Nauendorf

The weather forecasters said that today would be the end of the recent warm spell. With the prospect of no rain I set off for a cycle ride to investigate the roads in the Burnley and Rossendale area. I set off about 8:45am and headed through Blackburn to Larkhill and on to Whalley Old Rd.

Climbing over to Great Harwood I joined the A671 to head north. Just in front of me was a large group of cyclist going the same way. They pulled away as I approached the right turn to Padiham and on to Burnley. I climbed steadily up Rose Hill and took the left turn to Crown Point where I decided to have a sit down and something to eat. On the approach I’d noticed a sculpture on the horizon. A path leads to it so I decided to investigate. An information board described it as ‘A Panopticon for Burnley – Singing Ringing Tree’. It was an interesting construction on metal pipes.

The Burnley website describes it as:
Panopticon the ‘Singing- Ringing Tree’ At Crown Point high above the town stands Burnley’s exciting new panopticon the ‘Singing-Ringing Tree’ – a unique musical sculpture in the form of a tree bending against the wind, designed by award-winning architects Tonkin-Liu. As the wind blows it produces a low and mellow hum through pipes which are tuned so that they do not disturb the wildlife.
Heading SE I came to Burnley Rd the B6238 and descended through Water and Forest (places names not descriptions) to Newchurch. It was a very interesting valley of many lost industries and nice old mills. Not all in a state of collapse.
Approaching Rawtenstall I followed the main A681 which by-passes the town centre. On the right is a fine old mill and a superb chimney. I must return to photograph it and find out more about it.

I took the high Bury Road to Edenfield then descended into Ramsbottom where I stopped at the cross roads outside the Grant Arms. There was another interesting art feature, a huge metal water container or pitcher on its side and water spilling into a grid. Sitting on one of the benches I realised how hot the weather had become. Further on I left the A676 and turned off to Edgeworth and down to Turton Bottoms. I turned off at Chapeltown to meet the Darwen to Bolton Road which I soon left to join the Belmont road. Here it was nice to feel the wind on my back and I was able to ‘bomb’ it all the way to Abbey Village.