Bury may not the first place you'd think of for white-water kayaking, but that's what we found at Burrs, on the River Irwell. Here experts were not just practicing among little waterfalls and rocks, they were going straight over the weir in a spectacular flurry of foam. Alas on a return visit we found the Activity Centre closed and its future in doubt, but let's hope a solution can be found, for this is a delightful area with riverside walk, field paths and splendid former railway, now the Kirklees Way. You may even see a steam engine on the East Lancs railway to add a bit of excitement.
LOCATION: Bury
START: Burrs Country Park, signed from A58. Waterwheel sculpture car park, just past playground, more parking near chimney
Grid ref: SD801124 Postcode: BL8 1BU
DISTANCE: 5.5 miles
GRADE: Easy
TIME: 3.0 hours
MAP: Explorer - Manchester & Salford Landranger 109
REFRESHMENTS: Brown Cow & Garsdale
EN ROUTE: Irwell Sculpture Trail, Milney Moss, Brandlesholme Old Hall, Kerklees Brook, Holcombe Brook, Woolfold Viaduct
This walk was originally published by
The Manchester Evening News