In association with Rochdale Field Naturalists
Dinah and Pete Francis volunteer there and Dinah has agreed to lead our walk. Depending on time & weather we can discuss which walk people want to do. It will be either Southern Woods or probably a combination of the Kingfisher & Riverside Walk. The routes follow lovely woodland trails, through ancient woodland and will be about 4 miles long, along good paths. However there are two or three steep climbs and descents. These are stepped and can be taken leisurely. Paths may be muddy.
The area has some fantastic old trees, and on a recent visit we saw Kingfisher along with several other woodland birds and some fungi.
Quarry Bank Mill was owned by the Greg family. The mill, apprentice house and grounds are still standing and were the subject of 2013 -14 TV series called The Mill, showing the lard labour of cotton mill workers and the abuse they endured
There is a lovely volunteer run café serving very nice cakes in Styal Village and hopefully we will end our day there.
As the nights are drawing in we would like to meet at the Quarry Bank FREE car park at 10.30 am. Park immediately on the left as you enter. (The journey from Rochdale takes about 45mins – 1 hour depending on traffic). Sat Nav SK9 4LA will take you to the village, but when almost there do not go into the village but carry straight on for about 300m signed Quarry Bank Mill. There are also plenty of brown signs showing the way.
Entrance to the mill, gardens, and apprentice house costs £20 for non-National Trust members but the grounds are free to walk in. The café and ice cream kiosk in the main yard are also free to use. (National Trust members are requested to bring and show their cards as the venue is then able to claim money from a central fund to help with upkeep).
Anyone requiring a lift please email rfnspublicity@gmail.com a few days in advance so we can arrange it.