Six of the best places to walk in Bolton during lockdown

By Chris Hajdar

Something wonderful happened for me towards the end of last month that I hadn’t done since Thursday 20th March.

I went swimming.

It doesn’t sound like much but going to my local gym three times a week and using the pool facilities (as well as the steam room in the same area) was something that I loved doing just to get some exercise.

When the gym closed its doors before lockdown was imposed, I was left with a bit of a dilemma.

What can be done to get some exercise in these different circumstances we find ourselves in and at the same time boost the mental health?

In my case, the answer was simple; take up walking.

It was something that didn’t take up too much time at first but time went by became a vital daily activity for myself (and hopefully for yourself as well if you wanted to do such a thing).

And as you’ll see I ‘documented’ my journeys by taking photos during some of those routes that I would like to think reflect what a beautiful place Bolton can be if you slowed down and appreciate the world around you.

Let’s examine some of my favourite places to go from the time the UK went into lockdown (Monday 23rd March) to the day the gyms were opened up again (Saturday 25th July).

Horrocks Wood

I make my way to Smithills Open Farm via Sharples Park and then go behind the farm past the old site of the long-since-closed Smithills Garden Centre.

From there, I get to Horrocks Wood and walk by the site of a former coal pit behind Horrocks Hill Farm where you can see an excellent view of Manchester, in particular Beetham Tower.

Housing estate on the site of the former Moss Lea Nursery

Smithills Hall

Smithills Open Farm

Horrocks Wood

Horrocks Fold heading onto Blackburn Road

Entwistle reservoir

One that occurred on a beautiful sunny Sunday morning.

My Dad drove to us to Entwistle reservoir where we left his car in a lay-by close to the entrance to the forest.

We make our way around that takes us to cliff-edge by a quarry and eventually round the long-winding path that surrounds the entire reservoir, where various fishermen are enjoying the fine weather and (relative) tranquility.

After making our way to the other side, we go up some stairs that take us to a car park packed to the brink with families deciding to take advantage of the excellent summer sunshine.

We walk through a field that leads to a cut down part of the forest that nonetheless provides a breathtaking view of the reservoir below and reach the point where the journey began.

Hall'ith Wood Museum

Canon Slade Playing Fields

Eagley Valley nature reserve

Eagley Mills - a former water mill since converted into a housing estate

Eagley Sports Complex - Cricket pitch in the foreground

Eagley Football Club with the tennis club on the left

Banktop forest/Eagley Valley/Eagley Sports Complex

I go down to the allotments off Florence Avenue and make my way through a forest that Barley Brook rolls through.

I eventually reach Hall’ith Wood Museum and head towards Canon Slade Playing Fields and down to Banktop Forest as part of the Tonge Trail.

From there I go Eagley Valley, a local nature reserve, which in turn takes me to Eagley Mills, now a housing estate, and onwards to the Sports Complex, where the archery, cricket, football and tennis clubs are situated.

Firwood Fold/Seven Acres Country Park/Leverhulme Park

Another one from a Sunday morning where the weather was very kind to me and my Dad.

He leaves his car at Hall’ith Wood train station and we walk towards Firwood Fold, a small close-knit village that eventually leads to a nature reserve called Seven Acres Country Park.

After passing through we get to Bury Road and reach the outskirts of Leverhulme Park, a green space that is the largest park in the town. We see the five-a-side football pitches in addition to the athletics stadium as we go through the park, occasionally seeing joggers and cyclists along the way.

The path home takes us to Tonge Moor Road, onto Union Road before getting to Britannia Way, and finally a lengthy path by the railway line that leads us back to Hall’ith Wood train station.

Seven Acre Forest

Power League pitches at Leverhulme Park

Athletics track used by Bolton United Harriers and Athletics Club

Club house for the Bolton branch of Power League

Warburtons factory on Britannia Way

Path by the railway tracks heading towards Hall'ith Wood train station

Dunscar Golf Club/Egerton Cricket Club

This one might be one of the longest treks taken during lockdown.

I go past the Old Vicarage Care Home on Bar Lane and from that point walk through Westgrove Avenue, head up High View Street and take a footpath to reach the bottom of Kermoor Avenue to get on Blackburn Road

Next, I travel on Longworth Lane and take the long path up to Dunscar Golf Club, coming round to a bridge where I can go left to Longclough Wood or right to head in the direction of Longworth Road, where I’ll reach Egerton Cricket Club.

The journey back home sees a walk down Delph Brook Way and Deakins Park and through the cemetery of Walmsley Parish, onto Shorefield Mount and back onto Blackburn Road again.

Start of Longworth Lane overseeing Blackburn Road

Path heading towards Dunscar Golf Club with Walmsley Unitarian Chapel in the distance

Scoreboard outside Dunscar Golf Club clubhouse

Egerton Cricket Club

Map of Deakins Park business park

Path heading towards Walmsley Unitarian Chapel

In the cemetary of Walmsley Unitarian Chapel

Winter Hill as seen from Shorefield Mount

Overlooking Eagley Brook from Dunscar Bridge on Blackburn Road

Moses Gate Country Park/Nob End

The last of the Sunday walks in one of Bolton’s most pristine parks.

Park up in the space off Hall Lane and walk around the Crompton Lodges lakes that take you to Rock Hall where there’s a nearby playground.

You go into the forest that takes you round to Prestolee Locks and by extension Nob End woods and you’ll see a specially built Meccano bridge designed by artist Liam Curtin.

To get back to the car, you take the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Tow-Path and get back onto Hall Lane and after a quarter of a mile you’ll have reached the car park to complete your journey.