HIDDEN in the steep-sided gorge of the River Medlock between Oldham and Ashton, Park Bridge is a forgotten industrial hamlet that once employed hundreds.

Samuel and Hannah Lees founded an iron works on the Medlock back in the 1780s, and Park Bridge developed from this, flourishing into a mid-19th century village with rows of houses for workers, a school, church and even in its own train station. Coal and cotton enterprises also thrived along this section of the Medlock, a river only six miles long, rising in the Saddleworth hills and flowing west to join the Irwell in Castlefield, Manchester. This walk starts at Park Bridge which now forms a country park and has a visitor centre in the overgrown ruins of the 19th century mills. We head directly east to the low ridge of Hartshead Pike which rises from the rural pastures of the Medlock Valley. Hartshead Pike is easy to climb and the 19th century round tower built on its summit is on view for much of this walk.The present Pike Tower was built to celebrate the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863. But like Rivington Pike it was formerly an important hilltop beacon, used as a fire signal to warn off the approaching Armada in the 16th century.

The climb is well worth the view as the Pike looks west to Manchester city centre and east to the Pennines.

DISTANCE: 4 miles (allow 1-2 hours)

START: Park Bridge Heritage Centre car park (OS Grid Ref. 939028). Check closing times off the car park before setting off on the walk. Park Bridge is reached along minor lanes either from the A627 halfway between Oldham and Ashton or the B6194 Lees Road, turning off at Alt Hill Lane.

Use these route directions in conjunction with the relevant OS Explorer Sheet (277 Manchester and Salford).

From the heritage centre (a former stables), follow the lane downhill to cross over the River Medlock in the valley bottom. Turn left up the road signposted as Alt Hill Road and you soon get a distant view of Hartshead Pike. At the road fork, take the right fork signposted for Hartshead Pike and a track is soon reached on the left hand side of the road. Follow this track above a little valley until another waymarker post is reached. Take the path signed for "Hartshead Pike 1 miles" which bears right and enters a birch woodland. Keep to the right of a small brook and climb steps to reach a stile at the top end of the woodland.

Cross the stile and turn left to follow the field edge to another stile in the next field corner. Cross this and continue straight ahead along the hedge by a cottage to reach the access road to the cottage (Colts Hey Farm). Continue straight ahead in the direction of the Pike and when the road starts to swing sharp right look out for a waymarked path leading off to the left. Follow this path between fences to arrive at a stile on to Lees Road. Turn left and follow this road for about 150m, crossing over with care to reach the access road to a farm on the right hand side of the road.

Leave the main road here and follow the access road towards the farm. Do not go as

far as the stone buildings but look out for a waymarker post on the right. Turn right at this point and follow the grass path to the fence line then turn left and continue uphill to a nearby stile. Cross the stile and follow the field edge uphill with the fence on your right. This leads to a junction of paths in the opposite field corner. Turn left and follow the path signed for Hartshead Pike which leads uphill along a fence line. The path drops to a stile by a spring. Continue uphill towards a cottage then bear left to another waymarker post. Continue along the path signposted for the Pike which soon reaches a stile in a wall corner. Cross this and continue in the same direction along a rough track which heads in the direction of a golf course. But look out for a sudden change of direction indicated by a waymarker post and swing sharp right off the track by a holly bush to follow a path climbing steeply uphill to a stile.

Cross the stile and at the junction of paths take the most direct route uphill, crossing the access road and a further stile to follow a path leading directly to the Pike. Go through a wall gap at the top of the hill and turn right to follow the track along the ridge to the Victorian tower where there is an information panel and splendid views. To continue the walk follow the ridge downhill from the tower to reach a rough access road.

Turn right and follow this downhill past cottages. The road soon becomes wide and tarmacced. About 250m after passing Hartshead Hall, take a waymarked path leading off on the right hand side of the road heading for Lees Road. This goes through a gate and follows a track between fences, crossing two fields before reaching the road again at a stile. Follow the road right then left to reach the Lees Road junction. Go straight across the junction along Alt Hill Lane before shortly turning right down an access road. The access road soon swings around left to the point where you left it earlier. Retrace your steps from here along the lane to re-cross the stile next to Colt Heys Farm to cross the field and drop down through the birch woodland into Rocher Vale. Retrace your steps back to Park Bridge where you can explore the valley and the hamlet at your leisure.

COUNTRY CLIPS

There are walks to suit everyone on the North Yorkshire coast this month. Head for the Whitby Walking Festival which is being held on Dracula's old patch between September 13-21. The festival offers a week of organised walks ranging from short strolls to challenging long distance routes. Phone 01947 820625 for further information.