Drive & Stroll, with RON FREETHY

I LOVE East Lancashire, the River Irwell, walking and steam railways, not necessarily in that order.

In the area between Rawtenstall and Ramsbottom I discovered a fantastic quartet.

I began early in the morning, starting off from Rawtenstall Station, and followed a footpath along the River Irwell close to the local Groundwork offices.

The riverside walk is enhanced by a number of environmental sculptures which make up a nature trail with a difference. Along the riverside I watched dipper, grey wagtail, and a heron feeding. Under a tree I heard the high pitched squeaking and I soon located a pair of young tawny owls blinking in the rays of morning sunshine.

I resisted the temptation to pick up the owlets, which had not been deserted. The adults were waiting for me to go away before returning to their young, which may have crept out from a nest hidden under the roots of the tree. I took one quick photograph and headed off in time to catch the first steam train of the day.

I love sitting on a steam train, reading about the history of the line and celebrating the devotion and skill of the preservation societies which saved them. The East Lancashire Railway (or the Red Rose Line) trust has done a wonderful job and we local folk should be grateful for their efforts. We can reward them by paying our brass and travelling on the line.

It was opened in 1846 and closed in 1980. In July, 1987 a steam train service was opened from Bury to Ramsbottom and in 1990 it was extended to Rawtenstall. Excellent new stations have been built and have settled in to perfection. The places look like a bit of Dickensian England.

Indeed, Dickens himself spent some time in Ramsbottom and was friendly with the Grant Brothers who owned cotton mills in the town and who treated their workers much better than other owners. Dickens used the brothers in his novel Nicholas Nickleby but changed their name to the Cheerybles. At one time a tower was constructed to the memory of the Grants but alas only a few stones now remain to mark the spot.

This is in start contrast to the tower set high above Ramsbottom and which celebrates the life of Sir Robert Peel, a local lad whose family made their brass from the textile mills around Bury, although they began their business life at Sawley.

I began my walk up to the Peel Tower from Holcombe Moor car park. The tower was built in 1852 to celebrate the life of Peel (1788-1850) and stands 128 feet high. There are spectacular views from the structure and I listened to a skylark singing high above me while down in the Irwell Valley I watched steam from the engine curling away in the gentle breeze.

Peel was one of the most influential politicians of the century and was prominent in the repeal of the Corn Laws. He was also influential in the setting up of the police force, which at first became known as Peelers and later as Bobbies.

Apart from the railway I could also see the meander of the River Irwell. From the 1850s onwards the Irwell was almost, but not quite, polluted to death.

Before this the river was famous for its trout and salmon. I have a book published in 1830 which mentions that there were more otters on the Irwell than anywhere else in England and that these lovely creatures were seen close to Manchester City centre.

Trout are now back and as I travelled by train to Bury and then did the return journey to Rawtenstall on the last train of the day I saw the Irwell at its best.

Evening sunshine reflected from its rippling water and the East Lancashire countryside was beautiful.

This completes the six strolls from our tracks but I intend to take more strolls along old lines. If any reader has any ideas for future walks I would be pleased to hear from them.

BOTH Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall are situated astride the A56 road which is on the old Turnpike road from Burnley to Manchester. Both are on a direct bus route.