The Agecroft Valley. 183 



catch sight of the white cottage at the foot of Mere 

 dough, immediately after passing which, if upon the 

 Bury line, we continue along the viaduct and therefrom 

 get a full view, as well as of banks lined to the water's 

 edge with vegetation. Here the scenery changes entirely, 

 though retained for a short distance on the Bolton line, 

 and we quit the Agecroft valley. Not one of the other 

 railway approaches to our town ten minutes completing 

 the journey bears any comparison with this for beauty; 

 indeed, it is quite a surprise to people entering Man- 

 chester for the first time by way of Bolton or Bury, to 

 find so picturesque a country at the very edge. 



The best way to the valley on foot is to go over Kersal 

 Moor, descending on the further side, and so onward, 

 past the print-works, to Agecroft Bridge, which we must 

 cross, and turn to the right. If more convenient, there 

 is a way by Pendleton and Charlestown, crossing the 

 Bolton railway, then along the path by the river-side. 

 But this, as to its earlier part, is a disagreeable means of 

 access, and very little is really gained. Going by Kersal, 

 on the other hand, we come at once into a green, 

 sequestered walk, which accompanying the river for 

 about a mile, then changes to the bank of the canal, 

 and will take us, if we please, to the aqueduct, and 

 thence round by the cottages to the station. The road 

 straight away from the bridge leads to Pendlebury, to 

 which village there is also a pleasant path across the 

 fields, after ascending the river-side some little distance. 

 Keeping to the Kersal side of the river there is a delight- 



