Holcombe: Village History, Moorland and Hilltop Walks

Pre-industrial Holcombe Village has remained almost untouched by more recent development. It is also home to historic buildings and paths across Holcombe Moor and Holcombe Hill. When choosing your destination, you can therefore focus on local history, architecture or scenic walks as distinct interests.

Village History and Historic Buildings

Emmanuel Church is a Grade II listed Gothic Revival church. It was built by Thomas Holt of Bury in 1853. The history of other buildings can also be traced through specific dates: after the old courthouse was demolished in 1864, the Old Rectory was built on its site. Hey House bears a date stone from 1616 and was originally a Jacobean hunting lodge. The Shoulder of Mutton bears a date stone from 1751.

Earlier routes and uses are also part of the village’s history. Norcot’s coach house on Moorbottom Road was a stop on the packhorse route. Holcombe was also the historic home of the Holcombe Hunt; its pack of foxhounds was based there for more than 200 years. These traces offer insight into different chapters of the village’s past, without requiring a single historical route to connect them.

Peel Tower was built in 1852 in honour of Sir Robert Peel. Peel was British Prime Minister from 1841 to 1846 and is considered the founder of modern police forces. Pilgrims Cross is a historic monument high on Holcombe Moor: the ancient cross was already there in AD 1176, while the present stone had been erected by 1902 at the latest. Robin Hoods Well was regarded as a place for pilgrims to rest and drink on their way to Whalley Abbey or Sawley Abbey.

Landscape, Moorland and Views

Holcombe’s conservation area lies on the east-facing slope of Holcombe Hill, overlooking the River Irwell valley. Holcombe Moor is part of the West Pennine Moors and was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in November 2016. The different designations refer to different aspects of the area: the historic character of the conservation area and the moor’s special protected status.

On a clear day, views from Holcombe Hill stretch from the Pennines across the Manchester Basin and Cheshire to the Clwydian Hills and the Wirral. Buckden Wood is a deciduous woodland that provides a habitat for special plants, birds and insects. Alongside the moor, visitors interested in nature and landscapes can explore woodland as a distinct habitat.

Walking Routes and Practical Planning

The Pilgrims Cross and Peel Tower Circular Walk crosses Holcombe Moor and is five miles long. Lumb Carr car park on Lumb Carr Road in Holcombe is given as the starting point for the Peel Tower Circular Walk. Route details may change, so check the National Trust’s latest information before setting out.

A footpath on Holcombe Hill follows the ridge to Bull Hill; some sections of the path may be boggy. Footpath 53 connects Helmshore Road and Ramsbottom, running from Highfield House or Higher Dickfield to Lower Dickfield. Rawson’s Rake is the steepest section of the old route from Holcombe to the Irwell valley. Information about the route, ridge and individual path sections can help you distinguish between the different walking destinations without assuming a particular walking time.

Bus routes 472 and 474 run from Bury to Holcombe Brook. From there, it is about 400 metres along Lumb Carr Road to the start of the Peel Tower walk. There are no bus services to Holcombe Village; the nearest buses stop at the Hare and Hounds in Holcombe Brook and in the centre of Ramsbottom. Bus services may change, so check them before travelling.

Access to some areas of Holcombe Hill is prohibited when flags are flying at the MOD firing range on the western slope. Check access notices before setting out. Also call to find out whether Peel Tower is open. A traditional Choral Evensong service is held at Emmanuel Holcombe every third Sunday; as times may change, it is advisable to check the parish calendar.

Children’s birthday parties at Margaret Haes Riding Centre may include a ride to Peel Tower or, in bad weather, riding in the indoor arena. Discover more destinations: Charnock Richard, Euxton, Bacup, Worsthorne, Leyland, Whalley, Longridge, Lytham Saint Annes.

For the main travel overview: Lancashire.