Saturday, 31st August 2004
| Walk: | Rivington Reservoir, Liverpool Castle Replica, Wilderswood, Rivington Pike, Pigeon Tower, Terraced Gardens, Rivington Hall Barn | ||
| Start Point: | Rivington Country Park | Grid Reference: | SD 628 140 |
| Distance: | 6.7 miles | Ascent: | 923 feet |
| Time: | 3.75 hours including lunch stop and photograhs | ||
| Weather: | Sunny and warm with a strong wind on The Pike | ||
| Comments: | I've walked in this area more than 20 times, the last being in 2017, as I used to live fairly close to it. Today seemed the ideal time to pay it another visit but I wasn't prepared for the number of people who had decided on the same location. Wondering why there were so many cars along the main road I soon realised that it was because most of the Country Park tracks were already full!! Much of the area was as I remembered it with some extra footpaths beside the reservoir. Pike Cottage, which I'm sure had dog kennels, is now a small cafe. The terraced gardens were as confusing as ever with little information about the remains of the various structures. |
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Looking across Rivington Reservoir to the Activity Centre
Arriving at The Castle commisioned by Lord Leverhulme . . .
as a replica of Liverpool Castle
Work stopped after Lord Leverhulme's death in 1925 . . .
but it was always meant to look like a ruin
Another view across the reservoir, often obstructed by trees . . . .
which sometimes have their feet well below the level of the water
A rocky path heads up beside Wilderswood - a long climb!
Looking back over the reservoir . . .
and over Wilderswood
Rivington Pike comes into view . . .
just before Pike Cottage . . .
Colourful heather lines the path
Winter Hill . . .
from the climb to . . .
Rivington Pike . . .
where there are good views . . .
but not as many people as I expected
Well placed steps lead down . . .
from The Pike . . .
which can be seen again . . .
before reaching the Pigeon Tower . . .
and a nearby spot provides shelter from the wind for lunch
One of the many ruins . . .
which are linked by stone steps . . .
leading from one level to another . . .
but for which . . .
there is very little information . . .
apart from The Italian Lake, one of the earliest of the Terraced Gardens to be completed
A least the steep slopes are accessed easily by the many steps