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OS Grid ref: SD 70201 13288
Lat/Long: 53.615052, -02.450499
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My brother called to pick me up at 8 am. We drove to Belmont and
continued towards Bolton where Dean dropped me off at the Wilton
Arms. He turned around and headed home. |
Start at the Wilton Arms. |
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I continued along the path towards Bolton to a minor path
turning off to the right and over into Wilton quarries. The area
was used by rock climbers but no one was there today. The path
runs along the bottom of the quarry and then up a steep path to
the west towards Scout Road. |
One of the Wilton Quarries. |
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On the way I stopped to look at a stone seat erected in the
memory of Eileen Daly (1970-2012). I reached the road and
crossed over to a path running along the top edge of another
quarry now used by the Bolton Gun Club. |
Memorial bench.
Eileen Daly
(1970-2012) |
Distant view of Manchester from the bench. |
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I continued out onto the moors to the site of the tunnel I’d
investigated with Andy just over a year ago. The path is in good
condition and relatively dry. I continued to the Dean Mills
Reservoir embankment which is the first time I've visited. It
originally provided water for the mill far below and looks like
Dean Brook was used to transfer the water. A short way to the
west I could see the remains of another embankment dam which has
a breach in it so no water remains. |
Dean Mill Reservoir. |
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It was there on the 1849 map but not not on the next map
revision in 1892. I descended to the brook and a footbridge
taking the path up the hill towards Winter Hill mast. |
Winch gear by the reservoir. |
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Remains of Smithills Shooting Hut. |
The hut about 10 eyars ago by Jake. |
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I stopped to look at the ruin of Smithills Shooting Hut then
continued up the path where a group of workers were on the moor
or spreading mulch over the peat that had been burnt after the
moor fires a couple of years ago. |
Repairing the moors. |
I stopped to chat with them m&n continued on the path up to
the TV transmitter station access road. |
Repairing the moors. |
The main gates were shut and locked and no path through was
available. I was able to walk around the outside of the fence to
regain my route. I carried on to the end of the track and took
the footpath directly west towards the Belmont Road. There was a
cold wind but I managed to find some shelter to stop for my
sandwiches. |
Road Closed. |
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Some of the masts on Winter Hill. |
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It's the first time I've used this path off the hill and it
was relatively easy going and only became wet as I reached the
Belmont Road track at the bottom. I crossed over to continue
down to the old quarry. Along the old access road I met the
Hordern Stoops Road and followed it north east then left to take
the path across the moors to the ruins of old Rachel's. |
Ruins of Old Rachel's. |
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I continued west then a very wet route along a path to the road
at Alan Bridge. I kept with the road to Leicester Mill Quarry
access track. The track follows above Anglezarke Reservoir and I
kept with it to the south embankment of High Bullough Reservoir.
I took a path left through the trees and followed it's route
around the hill while looking down onto the reservoir. There
were some memorial benches on the way with name plates. |
Karen Moniz
(1959-1994) |
Michael Geoffrey Almond
(1936-2006) |
Diane Prudence Lorimer
(1940-1997) |
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Back on the main track I soon left it to head up the field to
Siddow Fold. The footpath goes through the old farm yard but a
modern refurbished barn into a house has put a private sign on
the gate. This is actually the public footpath. I was misled and
climbed the fence for a detour when I didn't need to to. I
crossed the road and headed up onto the moor to follow the path
above Stronsrey Bank. |
Siddow Fold barn conversion. |
Siddow Fold (1707) |
The weather continued overcast but pleasant and by the quarries
took the steep descent down into White Coppice. I sat on a bench
by the cricket field to have some chocolate and a drink before
continuing along the road then left along Tythebarn Lane. At the
sharp left-hand bend and I took the path straight on that heads
across the fields. I descended to cross Black Brook then up the
field where I had to make a detour around a fenced off area. I
came to the track heading up to Eagle Tower where I reached
Heapey Road.
At the road by St Barnabas Church and descended
down to the path through the fields. A new building is going up
and the path sign took me through the building site and down to
a stile. I crossed the fields and reached the farm access at Tan
House Lane where there are many buildings and houses, some being
barn conversions. I reached the Wheelton Bypass and crossed over
to follow the path to Springs Close where I walked through the
estate and then along Dark Lane to reach the Leeds and Liverpool
Canal. I followed the towpath to lock 6 where the workmen were
repairing the footbridge by fixing new stone steps. three men
were stood by watching one working. I continued to Town Lane
where I turned left then home. |
Repairs to footbridge.
Johnsons Hillock lock 6 |
Repairs to footbridge.
Johnsons
Hillock lock 6 |
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