Rossendale. 1 1 5 



Ramsbottom is succeeded by Stubbins, and after this 

 we get to Newchurch, the best place to ascend from 

 when bound for the other great moorland called Fo'edge, 

 where the parsley-fern grows, and the alpine club-moss, 

 and many another plant that disdains the lowlands, and 

 from which, if we please, we may pursue a glorious walk 

 to Rochdale, making acquaintance as we go with the 

 bright and wilful Spodden. Running down Healey Dene, 

 a narrow and romantic valley, the bordering cliffs seem 

 to have been torn asunder at various times by the 

 impetuosity of the rushing torrent So picturesque is the 

 dingle called specially the Thrutch, the river here, in 

 Lancashire phrase, thrutching its way past all impedi- 

 ment, that one seems to be far away beyond the Tweed. 

 From the elevated ground above there is once again a 

 wonderful prospect, covering Lyme, Cloud-end, the 

 Derbyshire hills, Frodsham, and the mountains of North 

 Wales, a prospect enjoyed, moreover, like that one 

 from Jackson Edge, at an incredibly slight expenditure 

 of climbing power. This fine neighbourhood may of 

 course be reached direct from Rochdale, going by the 

 Todmorden line; but geographically it belongs to Ros- 

 sendale, in which both the Spodden and the Roch have 

 their simple beginnings, wherein also, r v near the foot of 

 Derpley Hill, we find the cradle of the Irwell. "Rossen- 

 dale Forest," so called, the name having a sense similar 

 to that of Delamere Forest (p. 41) is approached by way 

 of Bacup. Lying upon the northern edge of the line, 

 the forest presents, with almost the whole of the ground 



