THE 'HORWICH' MOORS

Part 4: Coal Pit Road

by Ian McKerchar

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Coal Pit Road is a single track road running roughly north west off Scout Road. It has a few excellent small plantations running off it and many grassy fields which have proved very fruitful for birding. Several footpaths lead off from Coal Pit Road and are worthy of investigation. Parking along the road is very limited and the best and most productive option is to park along Scout Road and walk up Coal Pit Road. The road eventually leads to Holdens Farm (so a circular route back to Scout Road via Burnt Edge is possible) but the footpath running off north alongside Roscoe's Tenement Clough and leading you up to the mast on Winter Hill itself is recommended for those with sufficient energy.

Above: The entrance to Lomax Wife's Plantation. With excellent cover for migrants a footpath leads up through this small plantation.

Above: Viewing Lomax Wife's Plantation from Coal Pit Road is often the best option and the stone wall along it's southern edge here and fence line along it's northern edge can be rewarding.

Above: Lying off Collier's Row Road, immediately on the eastern side of the small row of cottages there, Brownstone's Quarry (more often simply called Collier's Row Quarry) is very sheltered and can harbour migrants. The quarry suffers some minor disturbance from climbers but it very rarely has any negative effect on the birds in there.

Above: Once inside the quarry there is a fair amount of cover to work but footpaths lead through all areas.

Above: At the north west 'corner' of the quarry a path leads out and onto a track leading you up past Hampson's Farm and eventually onto Coal Pit Road.

Above: Along Scout Road there is a large area of parking to the south of the road called Horrock's Fold. The view south from the car park can be fantastic but on the northern side of the road here is a long area of Sallows which has been little covered as yet but looks promising for producing something of interest in the future. Viewing the Sallows is possible only from the road though.

Above: The entrance to Bryan Hey Reservoir off Scout Road, just opposite Horrocks Fold car park.

Above: Bryan Hey Reservoir is a small area of water running parallel with Scout Road. It is surrounded by Hawthorn hedges, Sallows and other trees and despite only really being realised as a viable birding location in August 2010 has already proved very productive.

Ian McKerchar, December 2009 (revised October 2010)

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