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APRIL WALK – CARR MILL DAM/BILLINGE LOOP

Our latest walk took place on Thursday, 6th April, 2017. The starting point was from the Sankey Valley Visitor Centre, Blackbrook Road, St. Helens, where the friendly Ranger Dave Owen opened the toilets for our use before starting the walk. As usual, there were two walks. A long walk of 9 miles and a shorter 5 mile walk (which actually ended up as 6 miles). The weather was dry and windy, but not too cold.

The long walk was planned by Ken Higgins, who had done the recce and was due to lead that walk, but unfortunately he was unable to lead on the day, due to his recovery following an operation. I was therefore asked to lead in his place. Judith was to lead the short walk but injured herself and was unable to walk. This walk was eventually led by Keith with Ken’s assistance, as he had not had time to do the recce. You can plan everything to the last detail but you cannot foresee the unexpected.

Having overcome these problems, the two walks commenced on time with only 4 walkers on the long walk and 8 on the short walk. Both walks set off at intervals, in the same direction, on a pleasant route, following the old St. Helens canal, eventually passing the Nineteen Arches bridge.  We then skirted Carr Mill Dam and the ‘digpits’ to Otter’s Swift Farm, with an unusual weather vane. Then onto a public footpath called Lime Vale Road to Birchley Road and a large stone farmhouse.

Carr Mill Dam was formed by damming Black Brook valley and was used to power the industrial mills of the Gerrard Estate. It was later enlarged and used as a headwater for the St. Helens Canal, England’s first completely ‘dug-out’ canal of the industrial age, dating from the mid 1800’s.

It was just after this point that the long walk parted company with the short walk. The long walkers then continued on footpaths up to Rainford Road, having crossing a stream and passing ponds en-route. Then to Red Barn Road and a footpath uphill eventually arriving at the Old Billinge Quarry access road.  After a short steep climb, we reached the Beacon building at the summit of Billinge Hill or ‘Billinge Lump’ as it is known locally, standing at 587 feet (179m).

The Beacon building was built in 1788 as a landmark for ships, but was also used as a summerhouse by Winstanley Hall. The hill was used to monitor aircraft during the World War 2, and then by the Royal Observer Corps based at the former bunker just below the summit. The bunker was opened in 1960 and would have been used to monitor the location of blasts and the resulting fallout over Lancashire in the event of a nuclear war. The post was closed in October 1968.

We had our packed lunch sitting on the sheltered side of the old beacon building, as there was a cold wind at the top. There were fine panoramic views across South West Lancashire, North Wales, Derbyshire Peak District and Winter Hill, from on top. Apparently the migrant Painted Lady butterfly may be seen around Billinge Hill during late summer.

After lunch we headed down the steep slope to the old quarry road, past ‘The Old Vicarage’ to the end of Beacon Road and the main street. At St Aidans Church, we stopped to examine an old macabre coffin shaped grave of George and Kitty Smith. The lid of the coffin shows a skull with winged serpent. It is rumoured that the couple died having been bitten by snakes on Billinge Hill. Our walkers were glad that they did not know about this tale earlier when they were on the hill eating their lunch.

From there we travelled along Newton Road, taking a track towards Blackley Hurst Farm. From the top of a small hill St. Helens and North Wales can be seen in the distance. An cobbled track took us to an old colliery spoil heap, known as the ‘Blue Hills’, then on to Chadwick Green It was around this point that the short walk would join our route again to the end.

Once at the Goyt woodland, at the bottom of a gentle slope we crossed the stream via a footbridge, passing some ponds on the way. Then on to Hollins Hey woodland to Garswood Old Road, passing the Boathouse to the south-east corner of Carr Mill Dam. We then retraced our earlier route along Sankey Valley to finish at the visitor centre.

The short walk, who finished their walk in 2 hrs 30mins, were now finishing their meals in the Ship Inn. The long walkers, having finished their walk in 3hrs 30mins, then joined them for a refreshing drink before heading home.

Ian Gent