Bamford Wood. 161 



dells are disposed in the form of a V, the upper extremi- 

 ties again forked, and feathering away until at last they 

 merge into fields. Down every dell comes a stream, 

 rushing over large stones, the various waters all meeting 

 eventually in the angle of the V, and soon afterwards 

 swelling the river Roche, which in turn flows into the 

 Irwell not far from Radcliffe. The various portions 

 have all their distinctive names, "Dobb-wood," upon the 

 left, holds "Cheeseden-brook." Beyond this we have 

 Windy-cliff-wood, Carr-wood and Jowkin-wood; while 

 upon the right are Ashworth-wood and Bamford-wood, 

 emphatically so-called. The stream descending the 

 latter is Norden-water Exact routes through these 

 pretty glades it is impossible to prescribe, so much must 

 depend upon personal taste and leisure. The extent, the 

 beauty, and the wildness, require in truth many visits to 

 be appreciated. There is more than one round natural 

 lawn in the curves of the stream, where the silence has 

 often been broken by pic-nics and music. Most parts 

 may be trodden dry-shod, but it is well always to reckon 

 upon four or five miles and a few adventures. All ladies 

 who go the entire circuit deserve to be commended as 

 Bamford heroines. 



Not to leave the way altogether undescribed, the best 

 mode of procedure upon arrival at Simpson Clough is 

 perhaps, soon after entering, to ascend the path among 

 the trees upon the left, then into some fields and to the 

 edge of a precipice, from which a view is obtained of a 

 considerable portion of the wood, where an idea may be 

 M 



