Burrs Country Park, River Irwell, Cheesden Valley (12 Miles, Moderate)

Tucked in between the northern industrial powerhouses of Bury and Ramsbottom, Burrs Country Park is a little gem of a place, in a region full of hidden treasures.

A few other lesser-known Lancashire sights on this outing include the Lumb Mill and Deep Vale Mill ruins secreted in the Cheesden Valley, as well as the Irwell Sculpture Trail and the Valley View Tea Pod with its cute little alpaca farm.

It might be a little early in the year, but if we're lucky we might also spot a few patches of bluebells in the woods.

A couple of smallish hills to contend with on this one. Nothing too taxing for your average Marauder.

There's a café with toilets at the start point, and a pub at the end for refreshments.

Meeting point

9:45 am outside The Lamppost café in Burrs County Park.

The café opens at 9am so arrive early if you want a cuppa before the walk.

Parking

It's free parking at Burrs Country Park.

Public Transport

The number 477 Bee Network bus (towards Ramsbottom) stops at Crow Woods/March Drive near the park.

Dogs

Well behaved dogs are welcome on the hike and in the pub afterwards.

What to bring

Please bring a packed lunch, water and appropriate clothing/footwear for the weather.

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DISCLAIMER

• All Macclesfield Marauder walks are free of charge. You only need to organise your own travel, food and drink expenses.
• It's your own responsibility to remain safe outdoors. This group does not employ professional organisers nor first aiders.
• Walks are usually between 10 and 15 miles and vary in difficulty, with a good level of hiking experience required for the harder walks.
• We usually stop for a packed lunch and pop in to a country pub for a post or mid-hike drink.
• If you're on the waitlist, please wait to be moved to the going list before attending the event. But note, a lot of people tend to drop off the night before an event, so if you're near the top of the waitlist then it's likely you'll be automatically moved onto the going list.

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section!

Here's a guide to the difficult rating:

• Easy - Short distance, less than ten miles and mostly flat. Suitable for anyone capable of a brisk stroll.

• Moderately Easy - Shortish distance, around ten miles, some gentle hills. For those who walk regularly but don't have too much hiking experience.

• Moderate - Between ten and twelve miles, a few decent hills with potentially steep sections. For those with some hiking experience.

• Moderately Challenging - Longer distance, twelve miles or over with lots of hills. Suitable for hikers who enjoy being out for most of the day.

• Challenging - Around fifteen miles or more, with hills, mountains and maybe the odd scramble. For experienced hikers who like pushing themselves.

• Hard - Long distance, sometimes over twenty miles, with mountains and difficult terrain. Only suitable for fit, experienced hikers.

IMPORTANT
Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organised by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes. Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is not a business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader". Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen. Our experienced members volunteer their time and effort to shape a pleasant and quality adventure for everyone. By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer.