THIS local ramble uncovers the patchwork of riverside pastures hidden in the folds of the steep-sided Irwell Valley between Kearsley, Little Lever and Radcliffe.

The odd factory still dominates the river here but there is also the industrial legacy of the Bury branch of the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal, the woodlands of Ladyshore and the angling waters of Shore Top Reservoir. There are also views to the moors from the masts of Winter Hill to the Rossendale uplands. The walk can be started at Moses Gate Country Park or Farnworth train station and heads up the Bury canal towards Radcliffe, crossing both Rivers Croal and Irwell along the way. The return to Moses Gate Country Park takes in the canal aqueduct over the River Irwell near to its confluence with the Croal. Sturdy boots are required as the field sections of the ramble are boggy at this time of year

DISTANCE: 5 miles (allow 2-3 hours)

START: Moses Gate Country Park, Hall Lane, Farnworth (O.S. Grid Ref. 743067). Signposted off the A6053 between Moses Gate and Little Lever. Alternatively start from Farnworth train station.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Regular trains to Farnworth. Use these route directions in conjunction with the relevant O.S. maps (Explorer sheets 276 & 277)

IF starting from Moses Gate Country Park, walk from the lower car park towards Rock Hall. Do not go through the gateway but bear left and follow the path between the river weir and the toilet block leading to the red metal bridge crossing the River Croal. Cross the bridge and fork right following the path around the edge of the meadow to climb steps. Turn right at the top of the steps and a path leads through woodland with the river down the bank to your right.

Ignore two paths soon forking off to the left, but at the next path junction on the left (just before a bench is reached on the right), take the path on the left and it climbs diagonally uphill to reach the top canal.

Turn right along the towpath. After it passes cottages on the right it joins the track coming up from the lower level of the canal adjacent to Prestolee Locks.

If starting from Farnworth train station, turn left down Cemetery Road and pass under the bypass. Walk down Cemetery Road past the present waterworks construction site. Look out on the right hand side for the footpath diversion leading between the works site and the houses and join this, walking down temporary wooden steps and turning left downhill to cross a footbridge over the River Croal.

On the far side of the bridge follow the main path leading diagonally across scrubland to a gate and kissing gate on the far side. Go through the gate and continue ahead uphill alongside the Prestolee locks to meet the canal on the left.

The walk continues by going directly ahead along the cobbled towpath past the "Weak Bridge" sign. Join the continuation of the towpath straight ahead on the other side of the bridge between the bridge wall and the fence.

The disused canal is now followed for the next 1 miles. Keep to the path with a fence on your right and it passes under another bridge and runs alongside a factory on the left. Rejoin the towpath after the factory and keep along it passing under further bridges. The towpath becomes cobbled and the view opens out across the Irwell Valley. When you pass a row of cottages on the left you reach the red brick Nickerholme Bridge. Go under this but then immediately turn right at the wall gap and leave the towpath. Follow the path which leads to a track and when it forks, take either fork as they both lead down to a lane below. Turn right along the lane at the bottom of the hill and walk past the signed entrance to a pulp processing plant until a footpath signpost is reached on the left leading to a bridge over the river.

Cross this bridge over the Irwell but do not take the obvious surfaced path forking left. Instead fork immediately right and take a faint path through grass along the riverbank. You cross a footbridge and a stream to reach a stile. Go straight uphill from the stile towards pylons. Waymarkers would be useful here as the path is not clear but when you reach a temporary fence turn right and continue uphill to meet a track running beneath the pylons.

Bear right and keep to the hedge side as it leads to the water's edge of Shore Top Reservoir. Join the path along the lake embankment for a short distance, keeping the water on your left. It reaches two wooden gates indicating "private land". Just keep going straight ahead from here as the path leads through a small woodland and enters a boggy field. Keep the hedge side on your immediate left and walk along the field edge to reach a farm road at gates.

Turn right along the wide road, Prestolee Road, and it is now followed for about mile. It passes farms on the right and eventually drops downhill to cross the canal over a bridge. Turn right after crossing the bridge and join the canal towpath. Walk straight ahead along the canal back in the direction of Farnworth.

You soon cross the aqueduct over the Irwell. At the canal basin head for the wooden fence and gate on your left overlooking the scrubland of Nob End. You can retrace your steps to Farnworth train station from here. But if you are heading for Moses Gate Country Park, do not go through the gate but turn right and walk along the woodland path with the fence on your immediate left. The path is joined by the River Croal on your left and you soon reach the wooden steps leading down to the bridge over the river. Retrace your steps to the car park from here.