Waterfoot, Cowpe Lowe, Waugh's Well, Top of Leach, Irwell Sculpture Trail

Going down into Waterfoot for pop and sweets was a treat. I remembered it all so vividly as I set off from my cousins house in Edgeside, while walking down into Waterfoot and setting off on my way to the south moors of Rossendale. I did have a little trouble getting out of the valley though, a helpful local pointing out the way up. There were quite a few paths to take on the climb so I checked my GPS closely to make sure I was on the right one chosen. Once comfortable with that I set about enjoying the climb, following a cobbled access road which turned to tarmac during the climb, passed a lovely house which was probably a converted mill with fine gardens and a mill pond and came to road end at a house with four old type land rovers parked in front. I passed the house, went through a five bar gate and started climbing the rough steep track to the open moor.

Up the track I went on the steepest part of the walk, making 70 metres of ascent in the first 300 metres. A sheep with a lamb stood on the left hand bank side as I climbed. Both looked, sheep knowingly and lamb learning, the parent possibly thinking "He is making this look hard. Don't fret, he would never catch us". It was just 9.30am but already stiflingly hot, clear blue sky on a near midsummer day. After the track ended at the bottom of the upturned shallow bowl which is how Cowpe Lowe looks, I tracked anti-clockwise around the fenced lip to find access up to the top. Quarter round on the north side I found a gap in the fencing and a track leading up Cowpe Lowe which was waymarked in a scatter of white. I thought the white stuff to be potash fertiliser but it smelled different, a kind of musty. Since I have been told it may have been paper pulp from a local mill. Whatever it was, the wild horses I met on the climb to the top did not seem to mind it. I walked on past the not nice smell though before taking a breather and look back across to Rossendale. I looked for those halcyon places of childhood. Seat Naze and Edgeside Park were easy to spot.

After enjoying the view of childhood favourite places I turned my attention to the walk and climbed to the flat top plateau of Cowpe Lowe. "It would make a good cricket pitch up here" I thought, so flat and round was it at the top. At the center of it all was the trig pillar, 440 metres high. I reached it, tapped the top and took a drink before continuing on my way, first by scuttling off the south edge on a 25 meter drop to meet the Rossendale Way. Heading east for 500 metres towards Black Hill and then turning south towards Foe Edge drew my attention to what lie ahead. The evening before my cousin Kevin had said "Make sure you visit Waugh's Well". My path was now leading me there.

The path, a lovely one offering gorgeous views of the rolling moors, soon led me to an information board. It celebrated Edwin Waugh, (1817–1890) English poet and writer. Near to the information board is a retaining wall though no ruins of Foe Edge Farm remain. Waugh spent most of his productive writing years at Foe Edge Farm so it is a shame the local water company demolished such a place of interest instead of commemorating it. Vandals. A little further south along the Rossendale Way is Waugh's Well, built in 1866 by local enthusiasts under the lead of Mr Edmund Chattwood. The well was christened with some ceremony. While the original inscription stone was accidentally broken it was duly replaced and in 1966 the Pennine Paths Protection Society, financially assisted by the Waugh Society, repaired the well and added a bronze head. Every third Saturday in July the well is visited by Edwin Waugh enthusiasts.

From Waugh's Well a good view of Scout Moor High Level Reservoir is enjoyed. I doubt Waugh would have enjoyed it, the water coming long after he had left the moor. Beyond the reservoir I could see far across the West Pennine Moors to Darwen Tower. "Been there, done that" I thought. And indeed I had, all of one day ago! After my sightseeing I parted from the Rossendale Way and climbed 50 metres to Tottington Higher End Moor. The path I found on the moor led me on a winding and twisting roller coaster course through the disused site of Cragg Quarry. With industry long silenced the quarry is now used by walkers and bikers, the paths an ideal playground for those on two wheels. I saw a few bikers pass riding the rollers on routes marked with 'Mountain Bike Trail' as I walked my own course on the path marked 'Cragg Quarry Walk' while inspecting the redundant sites of quarry works and workhouses.

From the quarry the path I was following took me due east across Cowpe Moss and to a point where I could see directly across Cowpe Reservoir to Rossendale valley and the Rossendale Forest beyond. While the reservoir was stocked I was shocked to see Cragg High Level Tank which feeds it empty. apart from a puddle in the sump that is. We had a relatively dry winter and dry spring of 2019 but I was still surprised to see high level reservoirs at low levels or even empty so early in the summer. Perhaps we shall get used to such sights in these times of climate change? From the scene of a dry water feature I followed the dusty dry path to meet the Pennine Bridleway at a point just south of Top of Leach. I left the bridleway as soon as I had reached it to track due south on an unpathed course up the hill to Top of Leach. Twenty five metres of ascent took me up to the high point of my walk, 474 metres. After a 360 degree look all around at the Lancashire Moors, all of it beautiful on such a perfect day, I found a small stone windbreak shelter and sat down. Time for lunch.

Replete with refreshments I did my customary tapping of the trig pillar and set off walking with the comforting thought that I could now amble. With all the climbing was done, I looked forward to a slow travel downland across the gentle gradient of Brandwood Lower End Moor to Jackson's Moor and from there continue much the same way to Greens Moor. On my way I came across a large flock of Gulls using the moors as a gathering roost. As I approached their particular roost field they all rose to the sky and settled down in the adjoining field. after i was gone they went back to their original place. I met no more gulls on the travel over the moor, just sheep. They were not too bothered about me, going about their business.

Between Jackson's Moor and Greens Moor came across a few banks of earth and a couple of brick built wells. Evidence of disused mines which were marked on the map. Then on Greens Moor I arrived at a substantial quarrying site. A sign told me I had arrived at Lee Quarry. The quarry, like Cragg Quarry earlier, is a popular mountain bike trail site. However, it is as inviting for walkers too, a lovely transformed place of pools and artificial cliffs. There were a couple of bikers scuttling around while I explored but there were more walkers. Half a dozen or so, some at simple leisure and some dog exercising. All were enjoying the splendid scene as much as I. Lee Quarry is great. There was even modern art to find and enjoy, collectively titled Valley of Stone. A large metal plough like creation amongst the exhibits was by artist Robin Dobson and titled Ferroterrasaurus. There were stacked timber and stone sculptures too.

My modern art cultural experience ended as I made my way from Lee Quarry head off the moor. A wide hard stone track led me steeply down the hill and off the moor and through a wood of young trees before I reached a well trod path leading further down and beside a field of green grass and yellow jewelled Buttercups which thrilled my eyes. I was a little sad to leave the moors and colourful field behind to hit the streets of Rossendale. I had planned not to reach the main road running through Rossendale but I could not find the designated path of the Irwell Sculpture Trail when I crossed a bridge over the river so guessed it was a redundant area reclaimed by property. Forced, I walked, not unpleasantly, along the road of pretty stone houses, small work buildings, shops, worship houses and the like near to Stacksteads until at Nun Hill I turned into Blackwood Road, re-found the River Irwell and found the Irwell Sculpture Trail.

The finale to my walk was a delightful walk following the Irwell Sculpture Trail westwards along the Rossendale Valley to Waterfoot. I came across the first sculptures almost immediately. Carved out of local stone some were more surreal than others. I think the first I saw was a frog, the second one a family of faces. Along the trail I arrived at Stacksteads Riverside Park. Here I found out I was nearly right with the frog. It was a toad. And the family of faces was a totem pole where families of faces are often found. So not bad. Another I saw which resembled a Easter Island edifice was actually a representation of 'Scream' by Edward Munch. Still more like one of the Easter Island figures to me. After the park I followed the lovely leafy trail for a further kilometer until I reached the dismantled Rossendale Railway Tunnel. It was fun walking into the dark and through the tunnel back into the light. A great way to end my walk. "I wish we had done this as kids". Then again, perhaps it would have been too much then. It was a great revelation now. I loved it. Everything about it; the sights, the moors, the history, the heritage. The lot.