Country Rambles, and Manchester Walks and Wild Flowers: Being Rural Wanderings in Cheshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, and YorkshireGrindon, Leo H. (Leo Hartley)
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Country Rambles, and Manchester Walks and Wild Flowers: Being Rural Wanderings in Cheshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, and Yorkshire
Grindon, Leo H. (Leo Hartley)
England -- Description and travel; Natural history -- England -- Manchester
Clifton Junction may be regarded as the railway entrance to east and
central Lancashire, since at this point, while the original line runs
on to Bolton, there is divergence to Bury, whence, in turn, we get to
Accrington. After Molyneux Brow, the first station is Ringley Road;
then comes Radcliffe, the village of the "red cliffs," renowned in
legend and in local family history, and in a few minutes more we are
near the birthplace of Sir Robert Peel. The cliffs referred to, though
bold and conspicuous, have none of the picturesque beauty pertaining
to Prestwich. Nor, indeed, is the latter renewed until, after passing
Bury, we get to Summerseat, distant from Manchester thirteen miles.
The river, soon lost sight of after passing Molyneux, here comes into
view again, winding among trees, and with steep declivities right and
left. The eastern side of the valley is abundantly wooded, and although
broken by little ravines, offers a delightful walk of about two miles
to the village of Ramsbottom. To begin it, cross the little aqueduct
over the gorge, then keep straight on beneath the shadow of the wood.
Beside this pleasant path wild raspberries grow in plenty, and ferns,
and on the sunward edges of the steep brows above the stream, not
yet much sullied by "works," in September it is sweet to sit down to
rest and talk, noting as we chat the lilac blossoms of the heather.
It does not, as in the wilderness, monopolise the ground, but springs
delicately from the turf, here a little and there a little, in quantity
just enough to remind us that it is one of the friendly plants, those
of the same spirit as the anemone and the celandine, which never care
to live alone, but "love their own kind and to dwell among their
kindred." For the curious in other matters, up above again, on the
highest point, there is the celebrated tower which commemorates the
"Cheeryble Brothers," William and Daniel Grant. Looking across the
river, the opposite bank is remarkably different, the slopes being
almost treeless. Gradually swelling, at last they expand into a vast
tract of moorland called Holcombe Hill, well chosen for the erection of
the far-seen landmark called the Peel monument.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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