HOLCOMBE Moor, with its panoramic views and lonely monuments, is ideal for an autumn ramble.

Pick a good day and you can make out Penyghent, Kinder Scout and even Snowdon from the spur on which the 128ft high Peel Tower now stands. The wide plateau heads north from here to Rossendale and this walk follows the old rural road into East Lancashire, high above the boggy Irwell Valley down below which is now traversed by the M66 and the East Lancashire Steam Railway. Other monuments are passed along the way. A forgotten stone pillar and cross marks the resting place of Ellen Strange, a "hapless maid" murdered long ago on the moors. From here we join the old pilgrim's route to Whalley Abbey and pass the stone memorial to the Pilgrim's Cross which stands squat on top of the moor. The memorial was erected in 1902 by the lord of the manor and was carried up onto the hill by horses from Ramsbottom. The route then encircles the spur of Holcombe Moor above the lonely valley of Red Brook, providing a view across to the army assault courses where TV's The Krypton Factor was once filmed.

DISTANCE: 5 miles (allow two to three hours)

START: Peel Tower monument car park on the B6214 above Holcombe Brook village. Follow the road northwards from the traffic lights by the Hare and Hounds, passing the pub on the left. The free car park is mile uphill from the pub on the right hand side.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Bus connections from Bolton and Bury to Holcombe Brook.

Use these route directions in conjunction with the relevant OS map (Explorer 287 West Pennine Moors)

FROM the car park entrance, cross the B road and directly opposite join the signed footpath leading through a gate. This leads to another gate and joins a cobbled road.

Turn right and follow this path for a short distance before turning sharp left along a private road which is a bridleway. Almost immediately take the right turn off this and follow the main track which soon zig-zags left and starts to climb the hillside with a good view opening up south across Bury and Manchester. This track climbs quite steeply and then zig-zags right near the top of the hill to reach Peel Tower. The Tower is sometimes open to the public and a small fee enables you to climb the many steps to an old viewpoint indicator at the top.

Continue in the same direction from the Tower following the main track which heads in the direction of Edenfield which can be seen looking across the Irwell Valley below. The track soon leads to a gate by a wall corner and a National Trust sign. Go through the gate and continue with the wall on your right. The track reaches the far corner of the field wall then bears right heading downhill to a lower farm track. Bear left along this farm access track and it now heads directly north with a wall on your right. The track maintains the same height above the valley and is now followed for about 1 miles.

The track passes farms to the right and left of this old moorland road and continue along it beyond a woodland and ladder stile which are eventually passed on the right.

There are views north to Haslingden and soon gates are reached at a crossroads of routes by another National Trust signpost. Do not go through the gates but leave the road here by turning sharp left (almost back on yourself) to join a sunken path running parallel to a wall on the right. The path leads uphill heading back onto the moor and after skirting by a derelict wall on the left it passes on the left a cairn, cross and stone pillar inscribed "E.S." which marks the site where local girl Ellen Strange was murdered.

Continue straight ahead from here and the warning signs and flag poles of the MoD Rifle Ranges are soon reached. Take heed of the warning notices but continue straight ahead along the main path heading diagonally up the moor alongside the MoD ranges boundary. The path leads to the square block of the Pilgrim's Stone with its four-sided inscription.

Continue in the same general direction from here along the main path running alongside the MoD flag posts marking the boundary of the Rifle Ranges. The path crosses the flat plateau and then drops to a lower track overlooking the impressive glacial valley of Red Brook which spills of high moorland crags. Follow the track which maintains its height above the valley to your right.

The track is now followed for about 1 miles and heads directly southwards past ruined farmhouses with the moorland spur above it on the left. Ignore footpaths leading off the track but keep to the main route which soon reveals views of Bury, Holcombe Brook and Greenmount directly ahead. Keep to the track and it eventually reaches the point below Peel Tower where you left it at the start of the walk.

Retrace your steps from here by continuing to where the track meets the cobbled road.

Turn right then left along the adjoining gated path to reach the B road again. Cross this road with care to reach the car park.

LANDMARK: You're on track if you pass Peel Tower

COUNTRY CLIPS

You need only go to the cinema to enjoy the scenery of the Yorkshire Dales these days. "Calendar Girls" currently on release tells the true-life tale of the Rylstone WI ladies and their world famous nude charity calendar. Ramblers and film buffs may like to know that much of the film, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, was filmed in the pretty Wharfedale village of Kettlewell (and the Dales Way runs through here) as well as other Dales locations like Ribblehead, Ingleton and Skipton.