The weather over the last few weeks has been up and down – some days warm and sunny and then a return to winter. Last Friday came at the end of an unseasonably warm week. I was able to finish up work early and get out for a walk so I decided to drive the few miles over to Rivington and go for a wander around the reservoirs.
With its string of reservoirs and moorland hills, when I was young my mother would refer to Rivington as the “Little Lake District” and although the lakes are man-made and not as large as those in Cumbria, and the hills aren’t as high and rugged, it’s a fair point.
I parked up on the car park near Rivington High School and set off for a walk that would take me around the chain of reservoirs that stretch from Horwich over to the bottom of Healey Nab near Chorley, The route wasn’t as strenuous as my walk up on St Sunday Crag the week before, but it had plenty of interest.
I headed over to the replica of Liverpool Castle
A good view over to Rivington Pike
Following the path along the reservoir
with a short diversion to have a look at the Great Hall Barn
I crossed over the dam that divides the Lower and Upper Rivington reservoirs
and then took the path along the west shore of the lake. Unlike when I was here on a misty morning a few weeks ago, there was a good view over to Rivington Pike and Winter Hill
Carrying on along the quiet country lane
At the end of the Upper Rivington reservoir I crossed the road over the dam and took the path along the west shore of Anglezarke reservoir
The route veered away from the lakeside for a while, but not too far.
Looking over to Anglezarke Moor and Great Hill
Diverting from the reservoir for a while I took the path up towards Healey Nab, passing an old, flooded quarry
up through the woods
When I was a teenager we lived in at house at the bottom of the hill, on the other side, and this was my stomping ground. The trees were young then, but some 40 odd years later they’ve grown to the extent that they block the view over the town.
Heading back down towards Anglezarke, this used to be a favourite view in my youth (the photo doesn’t do it justice)
I passed the flooded quarry we knew as Bluewaters
and then made my way back to the shore of Anglezarke reservoir
I crossed over the dam to the east shore, walkng along a short stretch of road past Waterman’s cottage
and then took the path through the fields along the eastern shore
Part way along I cut across the path past High Bullogh reservoir (the smallest in the string of the man-made lakes it was the first to be created)
and climbed the hill emerging on the road opposite High Bullough farm
After a short walk along the road I reached Jepson’s Gate
and took the path through the fields and on to the moors
I passed the monument to the aircrew that died when a Halifax bomber crashed on the moors near here during WWII
and then descended down the hill to Lead Mine Clough
I followed the path down the valley to Allance Bridge, until I reached Yarrow reservoir. I then took the path through the fields on the the east side of the reservoir and then along the small river
eventually emerging at Rivington village. A small group of buildings, it’s a hamlet, really – but has two churches!
I cut across through Lever Park up to Rivington Hall Barn
I walked round the back of the barn and took the path through the woods
and after about another mile was back at the car park.
A good walk on a beautiful afternoon! And after a 20 minute drive I was back home. Time for a brew!
Down by the Dougie 
Like you say, plenty of interest there and a fine sunny walk. Cheered me up on a truly dreadful morning of grey skies and rain down here.
Yes indeed. Cheered me up writing it while reliving the memories with the rain lashing down on a cold afternoon 🙂
Glorious! Last Friday looked quite nice here, but was absolutely perishing when you got outside so you obviously did better than we did. I have walked across that dam years ago when visiting friends in Rochdale, but not very much further than that because I was on crutches at the time. That dates it to 2004. I remember it was very busy.
It was lovely and warm (well, for the time of year) in the sunshine.
And, being a Friday afternoon outside school holidays, other than around the Great Hall Barn it was fairly quiet around the reservoirs and up on the moors. Not completely deserted but I saw very few people for most of the walk (12 miles total, but relatively easy going most of the way and, for once, quite dry underfoot)
Beautiful walk, thanks for taking me along….although 12 miles would have put me under, so hitching with you is definitely worthwhile. =)
Yes, it was quite a distance for an afternoon walk, but most of it relatively easy going
My kind of walk…
Some glorious photographs. I lived near here a few years back, but sadly I never took the opportunity to fully explore the area!
other than when I was at University I’ve always lived less than 10 miles from Rivington and Anglezarke and have spent many a happy hour there 🙂
‘The Little Lake District’ I’ve never heard that name applied to this area, but it seems apt. Lovely to see those glorious blue skies.
It may just have been what my mother called it. But mother is always right!
And, yes, it was a lovely day for a walk