Life is full of surprises.

42.6 Miles. Now at Burrs Country Park Club Site,  in Bury

Yesterday we had a quiet lazy day at home so to speak. Well it wasn’t that quiet as we entertained visitors from Down Under and had a good long chinwag about all the happenings in both camps. We lost track of time and it was getting close to 3pm before we headed off to the pub for a late lunch. It finished up being so late we skipped a full evening meal.

Ladybower Reservoir.

This was the feeder for 2 mills and the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal.

Aqueduct over the river Irwell, Burrs Country Park. Water supply for the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal.

Today we were back on the road heading for Bury. The only reason we chose this location was because being a Bank Holiday week-end it was the only place we could get a booking in this area. Our original plan was for Skipton or there about’s but we just couldn’t get a booking for the Friday. I kept widening the radius of my search until I finally hit the jackpot here at Burrs Country Park, Bury. Needless to say it wasn’t our first choice.

The water feeder for the Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal.

The East Lancs Railway running right past our door at Burr's Country Park.

The River Irwell which is flowing quite fast over this weir.

The trip over the hills from the Dales in heavy rain was interesting as we travelled over Snake Pass (A57) and the name aptly describes the nature of the road. Running alongside the Ladybower Reservoir and Forestry Commission land the scenery was quite spectacular. Once over the crest of the hill it was a very long downhill run all the way to the outskirts of Manchester. For those who know the Manawatu Gorge and the Rimutaka Hill in New Zealand it was a cross between the two. The town of Glossop was interesting and had an Olde Worlde feel about it.

Giant mouse trap.

Back to back cotton mill workers cottages in Burrs Country Park, now used as an activity centre for children.

The East Lancs railway running behind the old Higher Woodhill cotton mill.

Once safely encamped in Burrs Country Park the weather improved enough for us to venture out and explore the park. The first thing to catch our eye was the steam train on the East Lancs Railway, we knew it was nearby but not as close as a mere 150yards away. The Burrs Country Park is the former site of two cotton mills, Burrs and Higher Woodhill. Upon further investigation we found that the two mills shared a water supply run off from the River Irwell which was also the water supply for the now defunct Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal. We cannot get away from these waterways. Despite it not being our first choice the campsite has turned out to be one of the more interesting sites we have visited.

Burrs lake and the first Canadian Geese chicks we have seen for over a year.

Wood carvings on the trail through Burrs Country Park.

Burrs cotton mill chimney. All that remains of the old mill still intact.

A total of 2438 miles, since 5 March 2011