Places to visit and explore in the West Pennine Moors, with special attention to the Rivington, and Winter Hill areas plus a few extra surrounding areas that I think are not-to-be-missed.
This section is a location based list where you can drill-down to specific data, I’ve included lat/long and Google map positions for most places but this is an approximation in most cases.
The County Parish of Rivington is quite large and contains the village, most of the “three lakes”, the pike and parts of Winter Hill as far as the River Douglas near Horwich.
All about Rivington Pike, a prominent hill above the town of Horwich in Lancashire, topped by an easily recognizable tower on site of an ancient beacon fire.
The ruins of Lord Leverhulme’s terraced gardens at Rivington, known to locals as the Chinese Gardens.
All about the Rivington Reservoirs, the Three Lakes, Yarrow Reservoir and Anglezarke with maps and information.
The highest point for miles and just short of a mountain, Winter Hill is a key part of the West Pennine Moors and a habitat for a huge range of wildlife. With evidence of occupation going back literally thousands of years there is plenty of history on and under the hill. Winter Hill was also the site of a historic mass trespass that gave us open access to much of the moorland today.
Anglezarke is a large moorland area north of Winter Hill with plenty to explore from prehistoric monuments and archaeological remains, to nature trails and lakeside walks
Lead Mines Clough is a great area to explore, with everything from excellent scenery and plenty of wildlife to lead mines and ancient fossil beds
Wildlife oasis and industrial archaeology paradise, Red Moss is a huge wetland area to explore
Roddlesworth Woods is a real gem for walking and wildlife, one of the top dog walking spots in the area
A picturesque little village with its own cricket pitch, also a gateway to diverse and excellent walks, a large prehistoric mound and easy lead mine explores.
Really nice industrial archaeology and great views here, with three picturesque reservoirs offering a fairly flat walk - in comparison to the moorlands above.
The town of Bolton or Bolton le Moors to give its full-name is a town that grew out over the centuries from Little Bolton, a town that dates back to at least medieval times and probably beyond. The old town of Little Bolton was just north of the current “Town Hall Square”, which is generally assumed to be the centre of Bolton.
Darwen is another local cotton town that once had many mills and chimneys. A few survive today including the exotic looking India Mill chimney.
Wheelton is a small town and area just in the Northwest of the West Pennine Moors with a great selection of moorland and woodland areas to explore, with many nice ruins and industrial remains.
