Healey, Whitworth walk (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Healey, Whitworth walk

5:14pm Wednesday 11th March 2009

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There is a great deal of folklore associated with Healey and its tree-lined dell.

There is said to be Robin Hood connection associated with the Spodden as it tumbles through narrow grottoes and over waterfalls.

Legend has it that Robin of Loxley visited the dell to woo young lady. Robin Hood’s well is still visited and it said that our hero was almost, but not quite, lured to his death by a witch.

Some of the rocks have been eroded by the water to produce human-like shapes and this no doubt helped to fund the legend.

We are on much firmer ground when we search for a firm connection with Lord Byron.

It is known that the Lord and poet was a bit of a lad for the lasses and he did own a substantial manor between Rochdale and Oldham.

He is thought to have visited Healey in pursuit of a very pretty member of the family.

With stories such as this it is surprising that Healey Dell — now the focus of a nature reserve and a pleasant visitors’ centre — is not more of a tourist attraction.

Also on the walk remnants can be seen of secret activities which took place during the Second World War.

Large concrete buildings were constructed in a hurry and used to store high explosives — an ideal location as it was isolated and was guarded by units of the Home Guard.

When the war ended there remained lots of lime-rich mortar which proved ideal habitat for the growth of plants such as orchids.

The same situation applies along the old railway line, long disused, and the remnant of the stations at Shawclough and Broadley.

This stroll is therefore a perfect balance between history and natural history.

Start at the information centre and first explore the buildings which were built in the early years of the cotton industry from about 1780.

At this time the mills were literally just that, water mills using the current of the fast moving Spodden.

Once towns like Rochdale developed steam-driven factories, these old mills proved to be uneconomic and one by one they closed.

Follow the wide track and pass a pond to the right.

Away to the right and beyond the old railway line is Healey Hall.

Cross a bridge over the Spodden and the old railway viaduct. Here you are at the nature reserve set up in 1976 and based around the line which once ran between Rochdale and Bacup.

It was built around 1867 and closed during the Beeching cuts of 1967.

The tree-lined valley is rich in flowers and birdsong.

The viaduct and aqueduct is 200 feet long and is supported on eight brick-built arches.

Continue along the obvious track, from which there are splendid views.

Cross Station Road and a bridge over the river before turning left along a track between the railway and river.

Here is a chance to see the remains of the platform of Broadley Station and the opportunity to sit quietly among the masonry to enjoy a picnic.

The line here was never popular with travellers and it was only a single line track.

Follow the old railway line to the viaduct and return to the visitors’ centre and parking area.

Here are several points from which the river, its rocks and waterfalls can be safely explored.

How many human faces can you find? Now is the chance to think of Lord Byron, Robin Hood and the pretty girls who took their fancy in the olden days.

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