The walk starts from the lay-by on Manchester Road between The Black Swan pub and Glazebrook Lane traffic lights, known locally as Swan Brew.

From the lay-by, cross over Manchester Road. Turn right and in 20m turn left onto the path, crossing stile by metal gate.

Cross next stile in 30m into field and follow path, keeping hedge and then fence on your right for 90m to junction. Turn right across field.

At finger post, turn left keeping line of trees on your left to corner of field. Bear right at corner ignoring gap in hedge and continue for 60m to waymark sign.

Pass between hedge and fence post and turn right along edge of field. In 100m turn left at waymark sign across field towards solitary hawthorn tree.

At next waymark, turn right towards wood and in 60m turn left along edge of field, keeping wood on your right for 110m before turning left across field at waymark sign following well defined path.

After crossing wooden footbridge turn immediately left following line of trees. In 60m, turn right to another wooden footbridge. Cross bridge and continue across field to lane.

Turn right onto the lane towards Hollingreave Farm. Keep straight on at junction with Dam Head Lane.

Just beyond Townley Brow Farm turn left down track by ‘Red Roofs’. Keeping to the left hand side of the field, follow line of trees to corner of field. Cross footbridge and turn immediately right along uneven track, passing bulrushes on your left.

After 110m from bridge, turn left at waymark sign. Pass a spreading tree and continue on track between the earth bank on your left and line of trees on your right.

At end of bank, follow track as it swings through the trees, first to the right and shortly to the left.

This short section is less well defined as it then swings to the right following the ditch on the edge of the paddock and passes between trees and bramble and hawthorn hedge. The track soon emerges onto the lane at the front of Moss Hall Farm.

Turn left down lane crossing a concrete road before passing Pansy Cottage on your left. Continue along lane for a further 470m passing two lanes on your right, until reaching the junction with Moat Lane.

Turn right down Moat Lane then, in 150m, turn left at the metal gate into Rixton Claypits. Turn immediately right following path down the steps.

Pass a viewing platform on your left as you continue along path. Cross straight over the track following path due south parallel to Moat Lane.

Pass a further viewing platform on your left and then descend more steps before continuing along path to Visitor Centre.

Turn left following elevated path for 400m towards Manchester Road crossing wooden bridge along the way (ignore all other paths to the right).

On reaching the T junction in the path turn left through pinch gap and continue straight ahead crossing the grassed car park to emerge onto Chapel Lane.

Turn left along Chapel Lane passing Rixton Tennis Club and Rixton Methodist Church until reaching the T-junction with School Lane.

Turn right onto School Lane and continue ahead into Hollins Green village for half a mile, passing the Post Office on your left. Look out for a sign turning right down The Weint, just before reaching the cenotaph and St Helen’s CE Church.

Take this short path passing the church on your left to emerge onto Manchester Road.

Turn left passing the Community Hall on your right and The Black Swan pub on your left as you then proceed down Swan Brew to the lay-by at the start of the walk.

The Black Swan Walk: This is the first in a series of local walking guides which will be available to download from the community web site www.rixtonwithglazebrook.net

Start: Park in the lay-by on Manchester Road, Hollins Green.

Distance: 4 miles.

Time: 1½ to 2 hours.

NB: Restrictions on space mean this article provides a summary of the route. It is advisable for anyone who plans to follow the walk to take a copy of the relevant Ordnance Survey map