Post: Charlie makes reference on more than one occasion to emerging onto Chorley Old Road from the Winter Hill moors, near the Leper’s House. I have mentioned this to all the local history groups in the area (which happens to be where I live), and answer came there none. So whether Charlie knew more about this than anyone else, we can only ruminate.
Tuesday, July 14 Some Tracks
During the heatwave, the moors have been on fire, and not having actual experience of moorland fires, Ben and I decided to have an evening trip that way. We would go over the Scotsmans Post route, for if any fires were to be seen at all, surely it would be there, where miles and miles of nothing but sun-dried heather and bracken and whinberry bushes stretch.
We started at 7pm, and quickly reached Belmont road, turning just before the drop to the village on to a track that leads past some workings, and climbs along the hillside. The upward tendency is for about a mile, unrideable and very rough, but not too bad. On the summit we were surprised to find no fires, but many signs were evident from burnt-out patches here and there. Just beyond the Murder Post (June 16 this year), we left the main path and joined an ill-defined track hardly perceptible in the heather. People speak of cigarettes and matches causing the extensive fires, but I don’t think that is the cause. We could feel the heat contained in the thick roots which were as dry as tinder. I think that the fires are caused by the heat beaming down on us from the sun. This road (to give it a name) ran along the edge of a deep drain, and gave us many a heart thump – we were riding – when our wheels slithered off a stone on to the edge. Our low riding position saved us many times. We dropped off the edge of the moors eventually, walking now, for we had to slide to keep our feet. We came out on the old Chorley road, near the Leper’s House, taking another footpath. Once we stopped to explore a tunnel running into the hillside, then we crossed a farmyard. The building was obviously very old, and I noticed that some of the windows were still blocked, an obvious reminder of the days when light was taxed and many windows were flagged up to avoid the tax.
Through many farmyards we wandered, eventually coming on to Chorley New Road at Horwich. Meeting an old cycling friend who I had not seen for many months, we proceeded down the main road together, then hurrying home to avoid the lighting up time. It is surprising what one can find of interest and beauty so near home. 22 miles
