Jumbles to Rivington Hall Barn – Southern Section

Click Southern Walk Leaflet - Page 1 to view or download a copy of page 1 of the Southern Section Leaflet.

Click Southern Walk Leaflet - Page 2 to view or download a copy of page 2 of the Southern Section Leaflet.

Jumbles Information Centre & Café to Rivington Hall Barn Car park

This 13.3 miles section of The West Pennine Way like all the other sections can be walked in stages. Jumbles Café to Egerton is 3.3 miles, Egerton to Belmont is 2.1 miles, Belmont to Rivington Hall Barn is 7.9 miles, can be shortened to 5.9 miles by direct route from Winter Hill. (If this is still too far then using Wilderswood car park before Rivington Pike is only 4 miles from Belmont and from this to Rivington Hall Barn car park is 2 miles.)

 

Click map to see an enlarged version.

Click Basic route instructions Jumbles to Rivington for this section of the West Pennine Way
Click Links to Urban Areas for transport links to this section of the West Pennine Way
Click Photos - Jumbles to Rivington to see photos of this section

More detailed maps for this walk can be seen using the links below.

Click Jumbles to Egerton to see a map of this section of the walk
Click Egerton to Belmont to see a map of this section of the walk
Click Belmont to Pike Cottage to see a map of this section of the walk
Click Pike Cottage to Rivington Hall to see a map of this section of the walk

There is good parking at Jumbles Café post code BL2 JS grid ref. 736140 and at Rivington Hall Barn post code BL6 7SB grid ref.632145 and various places near the route, together with opportunities for refreshments at cafés and public houses, Jumbles, Turton Tower, San Marinos are all on route and others close to the route.

Public Transport (check timetables as some are infrequent)

A676 near Jumbles No 273 Rawtenstall > Bolton (only 1 early morning) No 273 Bolton > Rawtenstall (only 2 early evening) Otherwise 1.2 miles to Bradshaw where there are various buses to and from Bolton.

A666 at Egerton No 1 Blackburn >Bolton and No 533 Bolton > Egerton

Belmont No 535 Bolton > Belmont

There are many footpaths from the surrounding urban areas which link to the West Pennine Way.  Instructions for some of these can been seen on the link above. 

An interesting route which combines everything, historic sites, country parks, a nature reserve and wild open moorland, the highest in the West Pennines.  See many memorials and the fascinating ruins of Lord Lever’s Edwardian terraced gardens where one can only marvel as to how they once were, before finishing at the ancient cruck barn and with the added bonus of magnificent views along the way.

Description of Walk Route

From Jumbles car park follow track passing café and continue to almost the end of the reservoir.  Turn left over main bridge then take footpath right off track up towards wood.

A path to the right through a gate goes to a viewing point to see a fossilized tree millions of years old.  It is well worth taking a short detour to see this.DSC00014

Continue through wood and field to the main road B6391.

To the left of the path just before the road is a Second world War Pill Box, strategically sited for use by the Home Guards to protect access to the largest reservoirs and keep watch over Horrobin Mill used for wartime storage.

Passing 2nd World War Pill Box before road

Passing 2nd World War Pill Box before road

Cross road and follow pavement left up to the entrance to Turton Tower, turn right and continue straight on to the railway bridge passing in front of tower.

Passing Turton Tower

Passing Turton Tower

Turton Tower is a grade 1 listed building, set in attractive woodlands and gardens, built around 1420 as a two storey stone pele tower, over time it has been extensively altered and was given to the public in 1929 and now belongs to Blackburn and Darwen council.  It is open to the public and has a tea room. The large ornamental railway bridge is over the Bolton to Blackburn railway which fully opened in 1848

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Continue over bridge and follow track uphill to T junction.  Turn right and continue following this track with stone wall on the right as far as a kissing gate on the left.  Go through this and up the fields passing a barn on your right.  Continue in same direction up through wood and field and through a kissing gate onto moorland.  Here turn right on well- trodden path to trig point on Cheetham Close.

Here there are remains of an Early Bronze Age stone circle. Until 1871,  7 of the estimated 11 stones still remained, varying in height from 30cm. to 1.2m with another 2 stones outside the circle, but a tenant farmer angered by the many visitors it was attracting, took a sledge hammer to the stones and destroyed most of them. There are small stone circles all over this moorland.

Remains of Stone Circle

Remains of Stone Circle

Continue in same direction to go over stile in wall ahead.  Turn sharp left and follow stone wall downhill and round the corner down and passing metal footpath sign to stile at junction of walls. Go over stile then turn sharp right through kissing gate.  Keep to footpath with stone wall on the right, shortly passing a bench.  Continue on this higher path through more kissing gates until reaching a farm track. Turn left down this stony lane passing a bungalow and then a sign saying ‘Private Drive’.

This is just before Dimple Hall, a private residence built in 1688 for barrister Sergeant Welch.

Down the lane passing Dimple Hall

Down the lane passing Dimple Hall

Just after Dimple Hall take the footpath left through field down to minor road, cross the road and go down footpath opposite, following a stream down to the busy A666 road. Cross road then turn right for a few metres to go over stile at the back of the bus turning circle.  This can be very overgrown, after 2 more stiles go diagonally right across small field to gate onto lane.  Turn left passing house and barn to take stile ahead, then cross field to Walmsley Unitarian Chapel built in 1712.

Turn left to follow footpath between stone walls and then alongside the grassy embankment of Delph reservoir to Longworth Road.  Turn left and follow road to just before Higher Critchley Fold farm, first property on the right, here turn right and follow footpath down fields over stiles onto dirt track.  Turn right to junction of paths.  Here bear right passing information panel on the left to follow main track through Longworth Clough Nature Reserve.Longworth Clough with Eagley brook running through the woodland, grassland and wetland ideal for a great variety of flowers, trees, birds and other wild life.

Pass concrete building on left and keeping stream on the left continue until footbridge.  Cross this and continue to the high fencing of a huge desolate complex which was once a paper mill.  Take footpath right following the railings.  Keeping brook always on the right continue through the clough.  After path goes steeply uphill continue across heathland then on path between mill leat on the left and deep drop to the brook on right. Go over gully on new bridge, the old one was washed away in a landslip on 29th August 2012.  Just a short distance after this, about 1km from disused factory, where a path goes beside a mill lodge, called the Ornamental Reservoir take the unclear path left which winds steeply uphill to field.  Follow this path with deep gulley on the left – same gully just crossed over on new bridge, continue following edge of field as far as a garden hedge, here take right fork to head to San Marino Restaurant’s car park.

Here there is a lovely café attached to San Marino restaurant called Lottie’s of Belmont. San Marino is open at weekends and evenings, Lotties is open every day morning and afternoons.

Go through car park and turn left towards Bolton for around 50 metres cross the road to take the first footpath on the right sign posted Winter Hill. After walking through what was a small plantation of fir trees and going through the kissing gate,  take the wide and well- trodden path opposite leading up towards the broadcasting masts standing proudly along the crest of the hill.  As the elevation increases, wonderful moorland vista open up to the north and to the east and the giant TV mast that by now looks as though it touches the sky, seems almost within touching distance.

Traces of early coal mining activities can be seen here and there on either side of the track. They were worked in the 18th and 19th century and known as ‘bell pit

 

Due to the Moorland Fires of 2018 and request from the Winter Hill Recovery Partnership the West Pennine Way has been re-routed to avoid walking over bare peat currently undergoing restoration works. Please follow the new route.

On approaching the top you may wish to visit the Trig.  Point on the actual summit.  To do this take the path on the right going past the only bench on the route (dedicated to the memory of Jim Robinson)and head  across the moorland with the fencing on your left, after rounding the high fenced off area, head for the stile which takes you to the trig.-point at 456m 1498ft high on this windswept summit.  Here you have marvellous views including the four national parks – The Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Peak district and Snowdonia.

Winter Hill can be bleak and inhospitable in bad weather but in good weather, interesting and enjoyable with miles of glorious moorland.  Man has roamed these moors since Pre-historic times, with evidence found in the many Bronze Age burial mounds. Since then man has always made use of these moors, up to the 1870’s the area was covered in coal mine shafts and the ones on the summit where some of the highest in England.

You can return to the West Pennine Way by turning left on the access road, to the stone post, on the bend in the road, where there is a plaque in memory of the 1958 plane crash.

Instructions if not VISITING THE TRIG. POINT:

When almost at the summit go through the gate and straight ahead to the single stone post with the plaque in memory of those killed in the 1958 plane crash.

The 24th February 1958 was a cold and blustery day with severe blizzard, heavy snowfall and strong winds.  The next morning there was sleet, drizzle and dense fog. This was when a plane from the Isle of Man crashed on the moors killing 35 of the 42 people on board.    The weather that morning was so severe that none of the engineers working in the transmitting station were aware of the crash, It was only by good luck that one of the survivors managed to get to the radio station from where a most difficult rescue operation started. There have been several other aircraft crashes around Winter Hill.  During World War Two an American Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder crashed in August 1942.  In the following year, the crew of a Wellington Bomber, flying from Blackpool to Manchester, were killed when it crashed just to the north of Winter Hill.

 

Continue on the tarmac road just before the Transmitting Station there is a memorial to George Henderson.

 

On 9th November 1838 George Henderson a young travelling pedlar from Annan, was walking over these hills from Bolton to Blackburn when he was shot and killed.  James Whittle, a 22 year-old collier from Belmont, was brought to court and found guilty of murder.  However, he was found not guilty at a second trial in Lancaster.  This iron post with a plaque in memory of the victim erected in 1912, replacing a tree that was earlier planted opposite the television station.

 

 

Memorial to George Henderson

 

Continue on the road passing the Transmitting Station, if maintenance work is being done on the mast, the gates will be closed, then follow the perimeter fencing on the left back onto the road.

The Mast.

The 309m., 1015ft. towering transmitter is one of the highest structures in the UK serving millions of homes in the northwest of England.  Imagine the men that built it in 1965 in what must be one of the most hostile environments imaginable.  Even today those who maintain it have a hoist to take them half way up and then use ladders the rest of the way and take one and a half hours to get there.

 

Engineers on the mast

For the shorter option:

Follow the access tarmac road down to a left hand bend here take the footpath on the right up to the top of the hill called Two Lads, where there are 2 big stone cairns. At this point the route joins with the longer route which you now follow from ***

Main route: Continue for only for a short distance past the mast to the fingerpost and turn left onto the good moorland path, with stone flags and board walkways through a gap in the fencing to a way marker post. Here bear right and follow this moorland track with good views across to Horwich, Bolton and beyond.

The moors here were once covered by woodland and it is thought possibly to have been inhabited.  There is a Bronze age round cairn dating from 1600-1400 BC.  A stone axe dating from 2500BC has been found in the area of the River Douglas in Tigers Clough, a flint knife plus two arrowheads were also discovered.

Whilst crossing the moors it’s perhaps an opportunity to reflect on the accounts of UFO sightings down the years in these parts.

In 1950, a witness described a ‘dark flat iron shaped object hovering close to the ground’ and an encounter with a being that returned to a craft before disappearing.  In 1999, in what became known as the ‘Murphy Incident’, a farmer said he saw an object hovering over his cattle field.  On investigation, the object moved away and the farmer reported the incident to the police.  The farmer returned to the field and discovered the object had reappeared.  He reported the incident to the Manchester Aerial Phenomena Team (MAPIT), who investigated it.  The UK government released previously classified information on UFO sightings in May 2006, one picture appeared to show an unidentified object over Winter Hill.

 

Continue down the track, which becomes walled on one side, as far as the stile into Roscow Clough Tenement.  Here the WPW route goes through this lovely Clough onto Coal Pit lane, but the footpath is in such a very poor state and is being repaired, but until then you are advised to continue on the track as far as the Memorable stone to the Mass Trespass of 1896 where you can turn right to join Coal Pit lane.

OPTIONAL LOOP FROM THE STILE TO TAKE IN THE BEAUTIFUL MOORLAND RESERVOIR AND MASS TRESPASS MEMORIAL STONE, which were both on the original West Pennine Way route.

Please note the path to the reservoir is closed March to mid July during the Bird Breeding Season.

THE LOOP:

Don’t go over the stile but continue on the track which goes down steps, across a wooden bridge and up steps.  At the top turn left onto a stony path heading onto the moorland, follow this good path bearing right to go along the southern side of Dean Mill Reservoir, at the far corner turn right on the path down the embankment, then fork right heading in the direction of the mill chimney at Barrow Bridge, which you can see in the distance.  Go through the 2 closely spaced kissing gates and follow path down through the plantation to emerge via a kissing gate and a wooden ramp on to Coal Pit Lane.
Turn right along the lane then at the first left hand bend take the track that goes straight on, through a kissing gate by a five barred gate and in just a few paces you will pass a stone memorial.

Until the footpath through Roscow Clough Tenement has been improved you are advising to keep on Coal Pit lane to Holden Farm.

The stone memorial is to commemorate the Mass Trespass in 1898 when 10,000 people took to the moors of Smithills demanding the right to access this incredibly beautiful place at risk of being closed.  This was 30 years before the famous Kinder Scout mass trespass!  The Winter Hill mass trespass occurred after Colonel Ainsworth of Smithill’s Hall closed the moorland footpaths to protect his grouse shooting interests. This action caused considerable outrage resulting in the mass trespass through Smithills moor to Winter hill and down to Belmont.

Trespass memorial stone

Trespass memorial stone

The whole of the 1700 acres Smithills estate is now in the hands of The Woodland Trust which intend to restore and revitalise the area and preserve the lands wealth of history.

Continue on this good path following the edge of the moorland and after descending the steps take the stile on the left through Roscow Clough Tenement, a beautiful wooded area. On leaving the woods turn right and follow farm lane to Holden Farm.  Here take the alternative bridle path round the front of the farm ignoring the footpath heading down the valley.

Continue on stony track through wooded dip then turn sharp right to take the footpath alongside the fencing (or for an easier route follow a footpath a few metres higher up the heathland which runs parallel with this path), once at the top continue to follow the better footpath through the heathland still with the fencing on the right, then go through the kissing gate.

The remains of a Brickworks can still be seen in this area between the gate and the road barriers.

Then bear right to tarmac road. Turn right up the road for 50 metres then left at signpost, once over the footbridge head on path to top of Two Lads hill with its 2 large stone cairns.

THOSE DOING SHORTER OPTION REJOIN HERE***

Bronze Age burial mounds were excavated here many years ago, but no records were kept.  The two stone cairns are modern with people regularly altering their shape.

From the hill top continue in the same direction on well- worn path down to Pike Cottage.  Turn right on rough stony road heading for Rivington Pike.  At the fork in roads take the right one which leads up to Rivington Pike.

This is the site of an ancient beacon which was lit on July 1st 1588 to warn of The Spanish Armada.  The Tower was built on the beacon site in 1733, some of the stones to build the tower are from the beacon. The tower was used originally as a shooting lodge.  It is a grade 2 listed building.It is a marvellous viewing point, on a clear day the hills of Wales and the fells of the Lake District can be seen as well as the Flyde coast line.  In the far distance in line with Blackpool tower is Snaefell on the Isle of Man.

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Go down steps,

Go down steps then bear left leaving stony path and follow  grassy path to gate.  Turn right to follow wide stony track to the entrance gate of Rivington Gardens, which is behind a stone disused building, to enter the grounds of Rivington Gardens by the two stone gate posts. Carry on for 500 metres.  At open space bear right across open ground where old tiles can be seen.

These are the remains of ‘The Bungalow’ which was Lord Leverhulme’s garden residence. Lord Leverhulme was born in Bolton, made his fortune with Sunlight Soap which eventually became the world wide Unilever.  He bought Rivington estate in 1900 and at once started building the ornamental Terrace Gardens and bungalow residence. It is part of Lever Park one of the largest and most impressive examples of landscape design in Edwardian England. From the ruins we can marvel at what sort of place it was with magnificent stone archways, flights of stone steps climbing up the hillside, numerous summer houses, ponds, waterfalls and grottoes, exotic oriental gardens which once had pagoda- like buildings and willow pattern footbridge.  The original bungalow was wood and burnt down by suffragettes in 1913.  It was replaced by a stone bungalow, but this was demolished after the 2nd World War.

Down to what was The Great Lawn

Down to what was The Great Lawn

Go down the concentric stone steps to what was once The Orchestra Lawn.  The base of the sundial still stands in the far corner.

Turn sharp right to take footpath running parallel with the wide stony track walked on before entering the Gardens. Follow this to The Pigeon Tower.

The Pigeon Tower was originally a dovecote with 4 rooms and a spiral staircase with lady Leverhulme’s sewing room on the top floor.

Pigeon Tower

Pigeon Tower

Do not go up to the Tower but turn left down the stone steps then left again to follow the path at the side of the Italian pond where Lord Leverhulme and his guests took a morning swim.  Turn right down slope, then down main steps and  over the seven arched bridge. Continue going down by taking every footpath going right and finally through a kissing gate and through a field and another kissing gate into the woods. Here go straight on following track, which bends to the right and goes behind Rivington Hall and barn to Rivington Hall Barn car park.

Rivington Hall Barn is very interesting and is said to have been built about 1550.  It is what is called a cruck building as massive split oak trees stand on stone pillars to support the roof.  It was restored and enlarged by Lord Leverhulme.