Or you can catch the train back from Ramsbottom.
12.5 miles unless train option taken.
Optional visit to the Chocolate Cafe in Ramsbottom, hence the name of the walk. This may make the train option more likely…
In December 2015 Storms Desmond and Frank washed away part of this walk in the Ewood Bridge area. This was repaired by the East Lancs Railway and Rossendale Borough Council.
Drone footage of the damage.
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chocolate cafe
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1. Bocholt tree
Part of the Irwell Valley Sculpture Trail and regularly decorated by a local resident
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2. gateway tesco
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3. Rawtenstall railway station
Run by the East Lancashire Railway
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4. train, Rawtenstall
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5. level crossing
Newhallhey
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6. Hardman mill
Spinning mill
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7. hardman mill 2
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8. Newhallhey
Once the headquarters of Rossendale Groundwork, this area had a willow maze and a carved tree sculpture. Both now gone.
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9. sign Irwell Vale
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10. train Irwell Vale
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11. sculpture Irwell Vale
Part of the Irwell Valley Sculpture Trail
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12. sculpture Irwell Vale
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13. afro llama
Shorn and missed a bit!
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14. frame Chatterton
Part of the Irwell Valley Sculpture Trail
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15. frame Chatterton
looking north towards Rawtenstall
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16. vase Ramsbottom
Part of the Irwell Valley Sculpture Trail
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17. vase Ramsbottom
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18. Ramsbottom Station
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19. train Ramsbottom
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20. Irwell, Ramsbottom
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21. small Skipper
Near Bleakholt animal rescue, Turn
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22. small Skipper
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23. white tailed bee
near Bleakholt
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24. Peel tower
Holcome villate
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25. mill lodge
Turn village
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26. turbine
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27. sheep
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28. butterflies
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29. BRGS
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30. dinosaur wood
shaped like a diplodicus
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31. Goodshaw valley
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32. Ilex mill
Bacup Road, Rawtenstall. Once an integrated cotton mill, now flats
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33. St Mary's
Founded 1837, the side galleries were added in 1854 and the tower in 1888