Around Bolton

21st May 2015

9.3 mile

Click here for route on Strava

We met up this week at mine as we were going to take our first adventure over the Lever Bridge viaduct which had opened a couple of days previous. Setting off along Gorses Rd down to the entrance to the cycle path and onto the viaduct, a wonderful view awaited us and we stopped in the middle to take in the view, something that hadn’t been seen since the railway line was closed back in the 60s. It was a great feeling as we rode over knowing we were one of the first people to do so for some considerable time.

We now crossed the new bridge connecting the viaduct to the cycle path, but as the bridge over St Peters way has not been completed we turned right and went down along Bromwich St until we turned right onto Chadwick St and then left onto Castle St near to Fred Dibnah’s old house which is now a heritage centre. We rode along Castle St until we went under the subways at Bury New Rd and then up along Church Bank and Churchgate heading towards Queens Park where we stopped off as there was some sort of preparation for a concert or something going on. Queens Park was being readied for the Boltfest event being held over the bank holiday period.

Onwards from the park we headed up Gilnow Rd up to the bend where we entered Heaton Cemetery and followed the path through the cemetery not really knowing where it was taking us, soon up ahead we saw a large iron gate but unfortunately it was locked and it looked like we had come to a dead end but there was a small gap at the side of the gate and through we went, this led us up the side of Heaton Fold Garden centre turning right at the end we came across a grassed area and another cemetery on our left so down the path we went until we couldn’t continue and we were looking over the railway and Deane Golf course in the distance ,a lovely view. Continuing from here we cycled up Overdale Drive and turned left onto Chorley New Rd heading towards Horwich. Shortly we pulled over to discus which direction we should continue, Graham came up with a plan, continue until the junction with Beaumont Rd and turn left until we could join the path alongside Middlebrook. So off we go onto Beaumont Rd until we came to the bridge, here we stopped having a little debate on which side of the bridge we needed to be. Once we had agreed Graham was right, we continued and low and behold 20ft in front of us were the steps leading down to the path!

Now on the path running alongside Middlebrook we continued until we came out near Gilnow mill here we went through the tunnel under the railway and out onto Spa Rd through the lights back towards the town centre, this is where we spotted a huge crane which is being used to build the new cinema complex at the old Market Halls. From here down Bridge St, along Folds Rd, Bury New Rd and back down Castle St passing the Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre before turning right down Ashbourne Ave to travel back over the newly opened viaduct and home ready for next weeks adventure.