Climbing muddy track to Winter Hill
HEAVY overnight rain didn’t dampen the spirits of a dozen East Cheshire Ramblers for the recent walk from Lever Park at Rivington.
With the skies to the west brightening, the group set off led by long standing member of the group, Ian Mabon.
A tree lined track was followed before making an ascent to the summit of Rivington Pike which is crowned by a tower.
The building was built by John Andrews from Rivington Hall in 1733 and was originally used as a hunting lodge.
Today, despite the good views, it was too cold to stop for our morning break so we descended to lower ground and the shelter of another tower known as the Pigeon Tower. This structure is also known as the Dovecote Tower and lies at the upper end of former terraced gardens built in 1910 by Lord Leverhulme.
Of the three floors, the uppermost floor was used by Lady Lever as a lookout, sewing and music room, while the two lower floors were home to ornamental doves and pigeons. The track known as Belmont Road was next followed northeast, which contoured around the north western slopes of Winter Hill but today this track had turned into quite a watercourse.
Heading north passing a stone marking the source of the River Yarrow our group soon headed west following an extremely muddy path in parts. The shelter of Lead Mines Clough was an ideal spot for our lunch break. With more in the way of afternoon sunshine, the walk continued via Jepson’s Gate before taking paths around the northern end of Anglezarke Reservoir, after which the track known as Heapey Fold Lane above its western shore was followed.
This reservoir is the largest of five reservoirs in the area and supplies water to Wigan.
With the sun low in the west and a few passing showers around, the last part of the walk continued, passing Upper Rivington Reservoir before ending the day with welcome refreshments at the cafe within Lever Park.
For more details of East Cheshire Ramblers’ programme of weekend and midweek walks ranging from four to 15 miles in length, go to ramblerseastcheshire.org. uk.