Walk Leader: Gaynor Wilkinson

Number on walk: 20

Distance: 11 miles

Weather: Bright

What a fabulous walk!! After a wet couple of days, the weather decided to be on our side, and not a single raindrop was seen.

Twenty walkers in total set off from Moss Bank Car Park, Smithills, Bolton heading through the park area into Barrow Bridge, passing the beautiful cottages and Dean Brook as we continued the gentle incline through the grounds of Bolton Old Links Golf Course golf onto Walker Fold Road. The road was followed for a few minutes until we reached the Woodland Trust Walker Fold carpark, the right lower path took us through Dean Wood towards Holdens Plantation before reaching the heathlands on Rivington Moor to admire the views from the Two Lads cairns. A brief walk took us to Winter Hill to look at the Manx Aircraft Memorial and then retraced our steps to the path taken by the Winter Mass Trespass walkers, before you pass the monument, a steep incline of stone steps takes you up to Dean Mills Reservoir, a well-kept hidden delight. After lunch, we started our return journey across Gale Brook, passing the Bolton Gun Club set deep into the quarry and crossing Scout Road on its tight bend, headed along the footpath to Horrocks Wood and the beautiful, wooded areas in Smithills Dean. We had a brief stop to admire the Medieval, Tudor and Victorian Architecture at Smithills Hall and then followed the narrow path taking us back to Smithills Croft Road to gaze upon the towering Barrow Bridge Chimney that had been a constant midpoint feature in today’s walk.

Consent was given for photographs to be taken by all participants and a short video of our day was made. https://www.relive.cc/view/v26M7e74N3v