We parked up at the newly refurbished Scout Road car park and were immediately able to allow the dog off lead, free to sniff his way round the many network of paths that criss cross the rugged hillside. To call it a wood is slightly misleading. Whilst there are trees in abundance, much of the area is rough grassland with occasional ponds and boggy patches. The paths are good though and a freshly surfaced bridleway is a good option to keep the mud at bay. Avoid it though if your dog is partial to eating rubber as the entire track is made of what appears to be small bits of recycled tyres!
The views over Bolton towards Manchester were good. Eventually the sun came out and we could make out both Jodrell Bank and the Chill Factor next to the Trafford Centre, which looked quite stunning as the sun reflected off the sloping roof.
We didn't really have a route in mind but wandered happily for a few miles towards Bolton before working our way back to the car. It would be hard to get lost here!
Perhaps not a place we'd make a special trip to visit, but a good wet weather alternative to the trip up Winter Hill.
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Click here for the Forestry Commission site
Doggy rating 6/10
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2 comments:
I think your site and dog walk reviews are absolutely amazing. We are looking for our next house to rent and, as we have a highly energetic young Springer cross Collie, we need to make sure there are good off-lead dog walks nearby - without sheep!!
We're really struggling to find anywhere in the Yorkshire-Lancashire area (Skipton, Hebden Bridge, Barnoldswick...) I wish you lived in those areas and could review some walks for us :D
Will keep watching your site for new reviews and read all the ones that you have done so far!!
Very impressive, well done :)
Thanks for your comments and good luck in your search. It's a lovely part of the country round there. Hebden Bridge has some lovely woodland walks right on the doorstep (one of our blogs in 2007 I think, I remember it was the first time we'd taken him to a busy town) and the canal too. We go to Skipton a few times a year. Again, canal walks right on the doorstep and Airville (think it's called that) Park is a place we stop off for a play with his ball. I'd imagine that you'd get to know pretty quickly the places that are good off lead in the countryside round there. On the moors round us it depends on the time of year whether the sheep are around, and whether there's an off lead ban with birds nesting. Gisburn Forest is well worth a visit, and not too far away.
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