The Trespass Walk 2nd September


Walk Leader: Ian & Karen

No on walk:    9

Distance:       12 miles

Weather:       Fine

 

Whilst the celebration of the mass trespass on Winter Hill was taking place on Sunday 5th we decided to do our own version today. See Winter Hill on the Latest News page of our website for more on this.

We started today from the small car park in Rivington and set off walking by the reservoir to The Castle. We then climbed up to Brown Hill and followed Belmont Road past Pike Cottage to the path heading across Wilders Moor. We followed this to the road which we crossed following the path past Holden's Plantation onto Coal Pit road reaching the gate where the trespass truly started all those years ago. There is a commemorative stone here which is very fitting and certainly worth a visit. We were now on the trespass route which we followed all the way to the top of Winter Hill and to the Two Stumps (Gate posts) where all the trespassers congregated 125 years ago. We had to visit the trig point, which has just been given a new coat of paint (I wonder why!), before dropping down to Belmont Road again.  We stopped on our way down for lunch where there were fine views across to Great Hill and Darwen Tower. We crossed Rivington Road climbing a short way up onto Hordern pasture to join the path heading west past Higher and Lower Hempshaws. It was here where John gave us a very interesting briefing on the impact the American Military had had on this area in the war years. Thanks John I really did learn a lot.

We then walked around Sam Pasture dropping down to Yarrow Reservoir which we past on our way back to our cars.

Photos can be seen 'here'