Take a look at Daisy Nook (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Take a look at Daisy Nook

4:26pm Wednesday 11th August 2010

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Daisy Nook was set up as a country park in 1974 following local government reorganisation when there were major incentives to improve the environment.

Within the Medlock Valley these days there are parks and areas for anglers, horse riders, walkers, naturalists, boaters and those who just want to enjoy the views.

1. Begin at the visitors’ centre which has many leaflets showing the area’s orienteering, model boat sailing, bridle ways and strolls along nature trails.

2. From the centre, bear right and follow the path keeping Oak Hill to the left. Turn left over the water houses aqueduct. From the aqueduct turn left and follow the line of the Medlock.

3. Approach Stannybrook Road and turn right along this. Down to the left is the site of the popular Easter fair.

4. Continue along Stannybrook Road to the Crime View Inn and the lake which gives the hostelry its name. Crime Lake sounds like a place which the police should keep a wary eye on but walkers can rest easy because crime is only a local word meaning a meadow!

5. After enjoying the natural history on and around Crime Lake or partaking of a pie and a pint or a lunch and a coffee at the Inn turn right. Cross a small aqueduct over the Hollingwood Canal. After the aqueduct turn left and keep the canal on your left. Continue along the Hollingwood Branch to reach one of the more interesting stops on this walk.

6. At Waterhouse’s junction time should be taken to explore the canal geography. To the right the Hollingwood Canal main line leads off via a pair of locks called a staircase and then down into an old pond known as Sammy’s Basin. This is popular with anglers and so is a stretch of the old canal now known as the Model Boat Pond. Explore this area then return to Waterhouse’s junction and turn right. This route keeps the Fairbottom Branch Canal on the left.

7. Continue to the bridge over Knott Lane. Cross the canal and turn sharp right. Then follow the tow-path keeping the canal on the right. This area is also popular with anglers.

8. Approach the A627 (Ashton Road) and turn right along this to Bardsley car park. Some prefer to use this area as the base for the circular stroll especially at busy periods.

9. At this point the route follows the meander of the River Medlock. Keep the river to the right, cross Knott Lane and continue to the arboretum. This is an ideal place to learn how to identity trees and this is one of many reason why this walk should be enjoyed in all seasons.

10. Continue into Boodle Wood. This gives the chance to look at the trees to see how well the information provided in the arboretum has been assimilated.

11. From Boodle Wood the path swings right and then left before crossing the Waterhouse’s aqueduct to return to the visitors’ centre.