Wednesday 18th June 2025

Wednesday 18^th 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 19^th century the hall fell into disrepair and eventually was bought by Liverpool Corporation Waterworks.

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.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

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.