Countryside Health Walks in Oldham and Tameside

Broadbottom: Lymefield, and Broad Mills

Length: 1km (¾ mile)

If walking in the countryside is new to you, to get the best out of this walk why not go with your partner or a friend?

Walk Summary

The walk is almost level for most of the way, with 2 or 3 easy short slopes. Surfaced paths most of the way. There are plenty of seats and picnic tables on the walk.

Landscape

Open grassland and woodland. The walk passes the Lymefield Visitor Centre, and goes through the site of the former Broad Mills, where information boards explain the various remains to be found.

How to get to the start

Buses from Manchester via Hyde, or from Glossop to the lower end of Broadbottom Village. The bus stops at the top of Lymefield, the unmade road at the start of the walk, 200 metres below a railway bridge over the main road.

By car turn off the main road through Broadbottom 200 metres below the railway bridge, into Lymefield (unmade road) and park at the information centre on the left.

There are regular trains to Broadbottom Station. However, the station is about ten minutes' walk from Lymefield, and the return is uphill. So be sure of your fitness before using the train. From the station turn right on the main road, downhill and under the bridge. In a further 200 metres turn right into Lymefield and to the Visitor Centre.

Toilets

At the Visitor Centre during opening hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Refreshments

None on route. Public houses in Broadbottom.

Map

Directions

1. If arriving by bus or train leave the main road through Broadbottom 200 metres below the railway bridge over the road and go down the unmade road (Lymefield). Turn left into the Visitor Centre car park.The walk begins with a short loop near the Centre. Leave the car park down a few steps on the side furthest from the Visitor Centre. In a few metres fork right on the grassy path, following it round in the direction of the mill seen ahead, curving right to emerge by the Visitor Centre. On this short loop pass areas managed as summer and spring meadows, and a small scented garden.
2. Go through the car park, left down the unmade road, right at the bottom in front of Lymefield Terrace, and through the kissing gate to enter the Broad Mills area.
3. Keep forward on the main path for 100 metres until just before the circular outline of the mills' former gas plant you turn left and follow this path to a 'crossroads' of paths in 100 metres.
4. Go left and follow the path in a loop for 150 metres back to the path 'crossroads'. Now go left, and follow the path through the trees, soon reaching the railings enclosing all that remains of the mills' engine house. At the main path just beyond turn left, passing the sluices (on your right), and bearing left then right into the wood. (Just before you enter the wood it is worth detouring a few metres up the steps on the left to see the wheel pit).
5. Go through the wood, parallel to the River Etherow to the far end, where there is a view over the wall of Warrastfold Bridge.
6. Retrace your steps through the wood and follow the main path back through the Broad Mills area to Lymefield and up the unmade road to the car park or Broadbottom village.

If you have any comments about this walk please contact:

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Strategic Director of Education and Cultural Services Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne Lancs OL6 6DL View local map
0161 330 9613
0161 343 1834