FRIDAY NIGHT GUIDED WALKS
May 2025 to August 2025
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All are welcome, no membership is required, come regularly or just occasionally on these free guided walks. You are advised to wear appropriate clothing and hiking boots.
There are plenty of stiles and several steep inclines. Sorry, no dogs.
VILLAGE LINK
To view the Village Link website and its walks, click the Village Link logo.
PILGRIMS' WAY
Follow the route of the Pilgrims 
from Whalley to Manchester.
For detailed information on this walk click
Pilgrims' Way
or click the picture.
Walk Reports
Monday 7th July 2025.
Panoramic Walk, Greenmount, Lark Hill, Top of Red Brook & The Ridge.
Twenty walkers left Greenmount on a hot and sunny morning and headed over the golf course to Bolton Road. Once across the road we turned right, onto Spenleach Lane and made our way to the Range House, where we joined a narrow footpath leading to Bridge Hall.
Heading for Bridge Hall
Once on the track we turned left and crossed over a stile, on our right, and continued through the fields to Holcombe Hey Fold, where we stopped to identify the old cars outside the barn.
Holcombe Hey Fold
After walking along the track for a short distance we turned right, through a gate and started the steep climb up to Lark Hill. The first section of the climb crosses Moorbottom Road before continuing along a narrow footpath, that goes around the side of the hill, where we had clear views of Holcombe Valley below.
Walking around Lark Hill
Strange stones on the hill
The path continued over the moors before descending into the valley, and crossing Red Book, where stopped to enjoy the sunshine and our morning coffee.
Descending to Moorbottom Road
Once out of the valley we headed back down to Moorbottom Road, where we turned left and followed the road, for a short distance, before taking the path on our right that leads down to the top of The Ridge.
After passing the ruins of Higher Ridge Farm, we descended into Redisher Wood and headed through the wood to the footbridge that joins the new footpath up to Hollingrove Farm. From the farm we used familiar footpaths back to Greenmount having covered an energetic six miles.
Over the footbridge
The new steps
Friday 4th July 2025
Come Walking Series of Walks, Rivington Gardens & Pike.
Fifteen walkers assembled at the bottom of the driveway, up to the Higher Barn, and headed in the direction the barn. Once at the top of the drive we made our way around the barn and started the climb into the gardens. Our first stop was at one of the Cascades, that channel water down through the gardens. We continued our climb to the Japanese Lake and Gardens, which has recently been restored by the Rivington Heritage Trust, who are now responsible for returning the garden to its original glory.
Heading towards the gardens
It was Lord Leverhulme (Willian Hesketh), the soap magnet, who built the gardens with the help of landscape designer Thomas Mawson between 1905 -1925.
At the back of the lake, we climbed up a few steps to visit the Kitchen Gardens, where only couple of plumb trees and apple trees were left at the site, but there was evidence of renewal with vegetables having been planted in the beds.
Summer house
The bridges
Having now climbed out of the gardens we started the steep climb up to the Rivington Pike where we had magnificent views over to the Fylde coast.
Rivington Pike
After spending time picking out the landmarks that we could see we descended the hill and made our way back into the gardens and headed to the Pigeon Tower, which was a dove cote when it was built, and was a birthday present from Lord Leverhulme to his wife.
The Pigeon Tower
Over the seven arch bridge
From the tower we started to descend the many steps, first visiting the Italian Lake, then crossing the Seven Arch bridge before heading back to the car parked, having covered four scenic miles.
Friday 27th June 2025
Come Walking Series of Walks, Sunnyhurst Wood & Darwen Tower.
On a dry summer’s evening, twenty three walkers set off from Sunnyhurst Wood Car Park and after walking out of the car park we crossed the lane and joined a footpath almost opposite the entrance to the car park, which we had not walked before. Once through the gate we continued uphill to Darwen Tower. On our ascent we had views over Darwen, including the India Mill chimney, which was the tallest and most expensive in the country when it was completed in 1867. The chimney was originally over 300 feet tall with a cast iron crown. Although this has been dismantled, the chimney still stands at an impressive 289 feet.
Climb up to the tower
At the top of the hill, we reached the Grade 2 listed octagonal Jubilee Darwen Tower, which was erected to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, with the foundation laid in 1897 and the Tower opening the following year in 1898. More recently, the Tower underwent restoration work in 2021, reopening in 2022 for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
We were pleased to find that the Tower was open, and we were able to climb the winding staircase to the top to appreciate the panoramic views over the moors, of the West Pennies and across to the Ribble estuary.
The Tower
Views from the top
The descent
After admiring the views, we then continued to follow the well-marked track on our left, before taking a sharp turn right which descended the hill. We then turned right to follow a track which led to the junction with Sunnyhurst Lane, where we turned sharp left onto the lane. Following the lane, we crossed the embankment, of Earnsdale Reservoir, at the end of which we turned right onto Dale Lane, and passed through the gate to enter Sunnyhurst Wood, an 85-acre wooded valley that is crisscrossed with numerous footpaths.
Across the embankment
The woods
From here we kept to the left and climbed through the mixed wooded valley, to the top of the wood before descending to Sunnyhurst Brook with its two stone bridges, in the valley below. Further down the brook we could see the Old England Kiosk built in 1911, which is now a popular wedding venue.
In the wood
The bridges
After walking up stream for a short distance we arrived at the Band Stand that was built at the same time as the Kiosk. From here we turned left and climbed steeply out of the valley, back to the car park having covered 3.5 picturesque miles.
Friday 20th June 2025
Come Walking Series of Walks: Rivington and Lead Mines Clough.
On a beautiful summers evening eighteen walkers met at the car park on Moor Lane overlooking Anglezarke Reservoir, where there were already several young people parked up waiting for the sunset. We started the walk by heading back down Moor Lane, in the direction of Alliance Bridge where we joined a footpath into Lead Mines Clough.
Lead mines started here in 1692 by Sir Richard Standish in partnership with two farmers and a mining engineer. It is recorded that 73 tons of lead was produced in 1788 – 1789. Mine shafts were up to 240ft deep. The mines were abandoned in 1837 and excavated in 1982.
Lead Mines Clough
After crossing a footbridge, we joined a narrow path, that climbed steadily up to the memorial, erected in 1953 by Horwich Rotary Club in memory of the six airmen who were killed, on the 12th of November 1943 when their Wellington bomber crashed into the hillside.
Memorial
After spending time admiring the views over towards Rivington Pike we headed away from the valley and climbed over a stile, where we turned right, and walked through the fields towards a wood, strangely named, The Flat. We continued to walk around the wood into Rushy Brow, eventually arriving at the Pike Stones. These large stones are thought to be the remains of the entrance to a Neolithic burial chamber some 4500, years ago.
Walking around the wood
The Pike Stones
Back on Moor Lane
From the stones we continued to cross the moor, where the views over towards the reservoir were enhanced by the setting sun. Once at Jepson’s Gate, we turned left and continued down Moor Road, back to the car park, having covered 3.5 very sunny miles.
Wednesday 18th June 2025
Monthly Long Walk, Hollinshead Hall, Great Hill, Withnell Moor, White Coppice, back via Roddlesworth Reservoirs.
Twelve walkers met at Roddlesworth Information Centre on a hot and sunny morning and quickly headed for the shade of Tockholes Plantation.
Our first stop was at the ruins of Hollinshead Hall, where only the Well House is still standing. Records show that there was a manor house on this site from 1380, when John de Radcliffe had the house built. The most recent owner was a Darwin mill owner, named John Shorrock. Towards the end of the 19th century the hall fell into disrepair and eventually was bought by Liverpool Corporation Waterworks.
Hollinshead Hall
Being told the story
Once back on the track we made our way to Piccadilly, without the bright lights, and safely crossed Belmont Road, where we began the steep climb to the summit of Great Hill (329m) After most of us had removed excessive layers of clothing and got our breath back we enjoyed the 360-degree views at the summit whilst using the time to drink our morning coffee.
Piccadilly
Climbing up Great Hill
The descent of the hill was difficult in places and care had to be taken, but we soon arrived at the ruins of Drinkwater Farm, and a memorial to a local fell runner, in the form of Joe’s Cup, which is a tin mug hidden in a stone wall for donations to be placed.
Ruins of Drinkwater Farm
The descent
We continued down the slope to White Coppice, said to have the most attractive cricket ground in England, but those of us from Greenmount may disagree with this view. However, we were pleased to be able to use the toilets and fill our water bottles.
White Coppice
Our route then continued along The Goit, in the direction of Wheelton Plantation, and the shade. After crossing a footbridge, we left The Goit and started the steady climb up to a lane leading out of Brinscall. Once across the lane we climbed over a stile and found a suitable place to eat our lunch.
Lunch
Refreshed we started out return journey, first by crossing Millstone Edge to Belmont Road, which we crossed and then made our way to Roddlesworth Reservoirs, which were very low due to the recent dry weather. After crossing the embankment, we began our final climb of the day, that eventually brought us onto Roddlesworth Lane, which we crossed.
Returning to Roddlesworth
Refreshments