Red Door Bury Wellbeing Walks
If you’re looking for positive ways to improve your health and wellbeing and would like to join other local people to do so, the Red Door wellbeing walks are for you.
“The walking group. breaths air into your lungs, is exercise for your legs, blows the cobwebs from your head.” Walk participant
- Gentle walking for exercise and leisure
- Socially welcoming group
- Enjoy the outdoors in our local area
If you’re looking for positive ways to improve your health and wellbeing and would like to join other local people to do so, the Red Door wellbeing walks are for you.
The walks are all led by people who visit the Red Door centre and anyone aged 18 or over is welcome to come along and take part.
Red Door is our day centre in Bury and the team there supports people experiencing poverty or who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, providing a warm welcome to anyone over 18. Support includes:
- helping with housing, finance and benefits
- assistance with physical and mental health and wellbeing
- enabling access to other support services
- free nutritious meals
- showers
- laundry
- volunteering opportunities
- energy advice to help reduce bills and improve efficiency
- and more
Anyone can drop in during our opening hours, with no referral needed. Professionals can call ahead and refer people if required too. The service is tailored to the needs of the individuals who come to the centre and activities are built with their input.
About the wellbeing walks
Our wellbeing walks are open to everyone and start and finish at our Red Door centre (find our address and contact details by clicking here).
Below is a short overview of each walk, as well as a map to help you on your way if you’d like to take on the walks yourself with family or friends.
Click the map to see more details, and if you have any queries or want to join our group for the next walk, we’d love to hear from you!
We also welcome ideas for other walk locations as many of our routes are shaped by people who come to Red Door and access our service.
The walks…
All the walks start and finish at our Red Door Centre. Drop in or get in touch with the team to find out more about when the next one is running.
If you’d like to do the walk yourself with friends or family, below are more details of each route, including maps…
If you’re walking, please do:
- Pick litter up
- Keep any dogs on leads
- Wear weather appropriate clothing
- Respect the countryside
- Bring a friend
- Remember the countryside code
- Enjoy!
If you’re walking, please don’t:
- Drop litter
- Disrespect others
- Feed animals
- Hold barbeques or open fires
- Swim (including canals, reservoirs etc)
Walk 1: Elton Reservoir
“Only a short bus trip from Red Door, Elton Reservoir provides a gentle to moderate walk around a body of water, with excellent views and wildlife. You might be lucky and spot a boat or two!”
Star rating (out of five):
- Difficulty: ***
- Scenery: ***
- Amenities: *
- Transport/parking: **
- Overall: ***
Points of interest:
- Reservoir
- Sailing club
- East Lancashire railway
- Farm
Transport from Red Door centre: Bus 471 from Bury interchange.
Walk 2: Kirklees Trail
“Known locally as ‘The Lines’, the trail follows an unused railway line starting in Bury and ending in Greenmount and is the most popular and longest walk in Kirklees Valley Nature reserve. Lots of wildlife and historic sites to been seen along this gentle and mainly flat, easy-going walk”
Star rating (out of five):
- Difficulty: *
- Scenery: ***
- Amenities: ***
- Transport/parking: *
- Overall: ****
Amenities:
- Pop-up café
- Mid route/cafe in Greenmount
- Shops in Greenmount
- Plenty of rest stops
- Egg honesty box
Points of interest:
- Tottingham viaduct
- River Irwell
- Wildlife
- Angling spots
- Cricket club
- Cycling route
Walk 3: Philips Park
“After a short tram journey from Bury, Philips Park is a lovey, idyllic local country park. Plenty of wildlife on show and various routes to take, to make your walk as long and as difficult as you’d like.”
Star rating (out of five):
- Difficulty: ***
- Scenery: ****
- Amenities: *
- Transport/parking: ****
- Overall: ***
Amenities:
- No toilet on route
Points of interest:
- Incredible Edible Whitefield
- River Irwell
- Glass Works
- Wildlife
- Philips Park Road Viaduct
- Philips Park Lodge
- Cycling track
- Mountain bike trail
- Children’s playground
Transport from Red Door – Metrolink from Bury to Bess’ o’the barn
Walk 4: Burrs Country Park
“A short walk from Red Door is Burrs Country Park. Gorgeous, open and accessible country park, with lots to see and do when you’re there.”
Star rating (out of five):
- Difficulty: **
- Scenery: ****
- Amenities: *****
- Transport/parking: ****
- Overall: *****
Amenities:
- Toilet
- Café
- Ice cream shop
- Family pubs
- Dog friendly
- Fishing
- Playground
- Camp and caravan park
- East Lancashire railway
- Picnic site
Points of interest:
- East Lancashire railway
- Sculpture trail
- River Irwell
- River walks
- Wildlife
Walk 5: Bury Canal
“Gentle but long walk along the Bury Canal from Radcliffe back to Bury. Cutting through farmland, there is plenty to see. You can even join our Elton Reservoir route on the way!”
Star rating (out of five):
- Difficulty: ***
- Scenery: ***
- Amenities: **
- Transport/parking: ***
- Overall: **
Amenities:
- Shops in Radcliffe
- Shops in Bury
Points of interest:
- Wildlife
- Farmland
Transport from Red Door – bus 524 from Bury interchange to Radcliffe interchange.
Walk 6: Chesham Woods
“Walk along Warmsley Road on the Lido Park that leads onto Chesham Woods. Nice relaxing walk with a café, lake and nature reserves.”
Star rating (out of five):
- Difficulty: **
- Scenery: ***
- Amenities: ***
- Transport/parking: ****
- Overall: ***
Amenities:
- Shops in Bury
Points of interest:
- Wildlife
- Nature reserve
Walk 7: Peel Tower
“Great scenery, lots of vegetation. Great views from the tower of the walk. You can see Manchester skyscrapers and Peel Tower is really iconic to Bury. Part of the walk is steep with uneven path in parts.”
Star rating (out of five):
- Difficulty: *****
- Scenery: *****
- Amenities: ***
- Transport/parking: ***
- Overall: ****
Points of interest:
- Wildlife
- Farmland
- Peel Tower
- Kirklees trail
- Ramsbottom
- Cafe and shops
- East Lancashire railway
Walk 8: Birtle
“A quiet walk with plenty of vegetation, passes a church, golf club and farm. It’s my favourite way to get to Radcliffe and then back to Bury. It’s really peaceful and loads to see cutting through the farms.”
Star rating (out of five):
- Difficulty: ***
- Scenery: ***
- Amenities: **
- Transport/parking: ***
- Overall: **
Amenities:
- Shops in Bury
Points of interest:
- Wildlife
- Farmland
Thank you
Big thanks to everyone who supports this project and joins us to take part in the walks.
Thank you to Bury Voluntary, Community and Faith Alliance for the support.
Get in touch if you want to join us or if you need any other support – we’re always here to help.
And, if you do one of the walks with a group of people yourself, let us know. We’d love to hear from you!
“Feedback on the day was that people really loved the chance to socialise with others, get into the fresh air, take some moderate exercise and enjoy lunch together.
“We can’t wait for the next one – all are welcome so please do get in touch or drop by the centre to find out more.”
Mike Holmes, Red Door centre manager