Jumbles Reservoir and Bradshaw Brook, Bolton

Key Information: 

Start: Bromley Cross station, BL7 9AG

Distance: 3.3 miles / 5.3 km

Height gain: 243 feet / 74 metres

Grade: Leisurely

Approximate time: 1 hour 45 minutes (excluding breaks)

Terrain: A quiet road, without pavements, then mainly level or gently graded gravel or tarmac tracks; a short steeper descent and ascent to and from Bradshaw Brook; some puddles and damp sections after wet weather; steps and swing gates but no stiles. Not recommended in icy conditions.

Accessibility: Because of the gradients and steps on the descent and ascent to and from the brook, the full route is not suitable for wheelchair users but should be fine for most others. However, the paths by Jumbles Reservoir are level and step-free and mainly on hard-surfaced paths. Simply park at Jumbles Country Park visitor centre, BL2 4JS (with disabled parking), and follow the wide paths with the water to your left for as far as you wish, returning the same way.

Facilities: The Railway Pub, next to Bromley Cross station, also serving meals; Cafe Twelve at Bradshaw Fisheries; and Jumbles Country Park Cafe. Unfortunately, the toilets (including accessible facilities) near the visitor centre and cafe are often closed, so you may need to rely on facilities at the other venues.

Public transport: Trains approx. every 30 minutes from Manchester Victoria via Bolton to Bromley Cross on Mondays to Saturdays. You can also travel from Manchester Piccadilly or Oxford Road, changing at Salford Crescent. On Sundays, services run every two hours, though there are more frequent buses from Bolton Interchange (adjoining Bolton train station). If travelling only by train, simply purchase a return ticket from Manchester (or your local station) to Bromley Cross. Of if travelling by bus from Bolton, buy a return ticket to Bolton and ‘tap on’ when boarding the bus. A day return rail ticket will enable you to break your journey at Bolton for a visit to the nearby Bolton Library and Museum. To plan your journey, visit National Rail Journey Planner or the TfGM Journey Planner.

Parking: There are 71 spaces at Bromley Cross Rail Park & Ride, though this car park is only for rail passengers with a valid ticket. Alternatively, you can park on Grange Road, just after the start of the walk.

1. Exit the station from platform 2 and turn right to go through a gate, cross the rail lines and go through another gate.

2. Head through the small parking area and go right, soon turning left, with the roundabout to your right.

3. Turn left again onto Grange Road, with large houses to its left, watching out for occasional vehicles as there are no pavements.

4. After the road curves gently left, ignore paths off to the left and right. After the final house on the left, turn right through the swing gate as signposted for Jumbles Reservoir.

5. Proceed along the wide descending stony path ahead, passing an information panel and bench.

6. As the path levels off, there are pretty views right over woodland, before the path levels again. Remain on the path descending through woodland to reach and cross the bridge over Bradshaw Brook.

7. Immediately reach a junction of paths (to which you will return) and turn right to follow the path with the brook to your right for 350 m to reach the steps up to Cafe Twelve, with views over the fishing lake.

From here you can extend your walk by continuing along the level path through the wooded valley for almost 0.6 miles (1 km) to a bridge over a side-stream. Return the same way for the onward route.

8. From the steps by the cafe, retrace your steps to the junction of paths by the bridge and turn right up the winding stone steps that head uphill.

9. Ignore the path off to the right to stay on the main path with fences to each side and follow the zigzags uphill.

10. At the top, keep straight ahead across the car park, being mindful of vehicles, then bear right past the toilet block.

11. Where the road bends right, walk straight ahead past another parking area and the Jumbles Country Park Cafe and, just afterwards, picnic tables with great views over the reservoir.

12. Continue along the path through a wooded landscape with more watery views, passing benches, crossing a long bridge over a stream, and ignoring a path off right near a low wall.

13. Soon reach a footbridge at the north end of the reservoir and turn left across it.

14. Now bear left along the western shore, soon rising through a wooded area.

15. After the path levels off behind a large house (left), pass a barrier, keeping a tall wooden fence to your left with views right over a large pond.

16. Soon pass bollards and go right on the tarmac access road with the water to your left.

17. At a crossroads, turn left over a bridge and continue along the track, passing a metal barrier.

18. The stony path soon curves left into a wooden area and then curves gently right parallel with the lakeshore.

19. At the end of the wooded section, the path rises. Pass a barrier and proceed ahead along the enclosed path.

20. Soon pass the buildings of Grange Farm to re-join Grange Road (initially with a pavement right), which you follow almost to the end of the walk.

21. Pass gates and a fingerpost, soon retracing your steps back to the station and, across the rail lines, the Railway Pub.

When you’re ready to board your train or bus, you can break your journey in Bolton for a visit to the impressive Bolton Library and Museum. As well as the Egyptology Collection, the museum also houses an important collection of British artworks and Greater Manchester’s only public aquarium.