Distance - 5 Miles
Geocaches - 5 and an Adventure Lab Cache
A weekend in Manchester, where we find ourselves babysitting the closest we will probably get to grandchildren, our daughter's Guide Dog in Training Boarder, Bee.
I am tasked with finding a walk that is dog friendly in the Greater Manchester Area. The dog wants somewhere off lead. I want a reasonable pub. Visit Manchester has a number of leaflets available for download. My introduction to the South Pennines are the villages of Ramsbottom and Holcombe.
We start near the Peel Tower and head down a cobbled trackway called the Holcombe Old Road. This would not be out of place in an episode of Last of the Summer Wine. It's Brooksbottom before Bee can be allowed of lead and she has a fine frolic in the stream.
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| Old Holcombe Road |
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| Running under Peel Tower |
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| Guide Dog in training Bee testing the water at Brooksbottom |
A lovely section of woodland leads to the Irlam Valley way and into Ramsbottom. Lovely little village, with a very independent feel to the shops in the high street. An Adventure Lab Cache would have been easier if we had not got distracted by the Craft Beer Micro Pub. The locations and information contained within did prove useful for our eventual refreshment choice.
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| Coming into Ramsbottom along the River Irwell |
Its a stiff climb out of Ramsbottom to Holcombe - onto the edge of moorland. We had noticed the sturdy looking Shoulder of Mutton on the drive in.
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| Handsome. Sturdy. |
As a tourist, I would be happy enough with the history contained on their website. A pub since 1751, with a disorderly reputation. Cockfighting continued long after the the 1859 ban and into the 1930s. Added irony, as the Peel Tower monument overlooking the pub is in memory of the founder of the modern Police Force.
Timothy Taylor Landlord is not often turned down but I went experimental for a fine, first pint of Moorhouse Brewery Blonde Witch.
The final location for the Adventure Lab Cache is here, so a quick read up details further pub information. It was damaged in a WW1 Zeppelin bomb attack, where the customers had to shelter in the pub cellars.
I can feel a new tick list coming on. So far, two entries - this and London's Dolphin Tavern.
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