A Spring Hike to Rivington Pike
16 people attending
4 places left
Join Andy, Tom, and the OutdoorLads for a walk to the peaks of Winter Hill and Rivington Pike, near Horwich in Bolton.
We will meet at Rivington Hall, from where we will ascend up through the winding maze-like paths of the Rivington Garden ruins which eventually connect to the West Pennines. We will then ascend up the Belmont Road path to get to the first summit at the Winter Hill trig point (455m).
Shortly after making our way past the iconic Winter Hill TV station antenna arrays, we will head to Rivington Pike itself (380m). We will then navigate back through the pathways of the Rivington ruins, and back to the car park before having refreshments locally.
We will be taking our time and enjoying the scenery so no rushing here.
Plenty of photo-stops and coffee breaks so bring a flask if you have one.
Points of interest on the walk:
Rivington Hall – Estate hall dating back to the 15th Century and more recently owned by the Leverhulme family, founders of Unilever Corporation since 1905.
Pigeon Tower – An iconic tower looking out over Horwich, built as a gift to the wife of Lord Leverhulme in 1909 and looking like something out of Harry Potter.
Winter Hill TV Station – A 300 meter TV broadcasting transmitter dating back to the 1950s, delivering TV to over 6 million people.
Rivington Pike – A smaller hill on the side of Winter Hill, with the Pike Tower, built in 1733 as a stone hunting lodge.
This event has been re-arranged from 10.3.23 due to bad weather.
Free Car Parking
This is a dog friendly event, so please bring your pooches along. The more the merrier !
All photos taken by Tom
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What to bring
Please be prepared for cold/windy weather and bring waterproof and wind resistant coats/trousers . Walking boots are essential and there are some muddy areas. A warm hat is not a bad option too for the top of Winter Hill and Rivington Pike.
Walking Boots
Why boots? Won't trainers do?
Well, no - they won't keep your feet dry (think long wet grass, boggy moorland, streams and muddy fields) and they offer very little ankle support on rough paths (mountain walks especially), making twisting an ankle far easier.
Walking trousers or shorts
Sorry - no jeans please. It's happened before where someone has become cold, uncomfortable and miserable after getting their jeans wet early on during a walk. This is an inconvenience at best and a liability at worst, especially on exposed higher level walks. Walking trousers dry far more quickly and are more comfortable when wet.
Water/bladder
Medication if necessary
Rucksack
Boots: Breathable walking shoes. Preferably waterproof for any wet/muddy areas
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Socks: A good walking sock to protect your feet
Layered clothing: Interchangeable base and mid-layer/outer layer recommended for this time of year
Hat/cap
Trousers: A pair of walking trousers over jeans and shorts etc. due to changes in weather and consider a breathable fabric where possible.
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Walking pole/s if preferred
You may wish to bring along a camera to capture some of the beauty of this magical part of the country.
Extras
Sit mat
These cost next to nothing, don't take up much space and provide a welcome perch during a lunch break when everyone else has nicked the best seats.
Walking Poles
The popularity of walking poles is steadily increasing as more people realise the benefits of them - this includes people of all ages. Poles offer a better spread of effort on ascent, taking some of the load off the legs and onto the arms. The same concept applies more so during descent due to the additional shock loading which would otherwise be present on the knee joints.
Poles are best used in pairs to balance your gait.
Torch
A torch isn't usually needed for easier walks, but do check the walk write-up as the short daylight hours during winter and evening walks during the summer mean that walks can sometimes finish at or after dusk.
Recommended for mountain walks during summer and winter months.
First-Aid Kit
Even on short walks, it's always useful to have a couple of plasters handy in the case of blisters or other minor mishaps. Compede is useful for blisters in the early stages and is available at most outdoor shops.
For hills or mountain walking, minor cuts and abrasions can and do occur, so a few extra items such as swabs, dressings, tape and antiseptic cream will be useful. Paracetamol or Ibuprofen for pain killers.
LifeSystems do a conveniently sized pocket first-aid pouch, also available at most outdoor stores.
Whistle & Survival bag
Useful in the case of emergencies on the hill for attracting attention and keeping warm. Survival bags also offer a convenient way of attaining a faster descent down a suitably snowy hillside - not that we officially condone that sort of thing of course!
Food & drink
Water/bladder
A packed lunch will be required. There is a café where you can purchase breakfast items as well as sandwiches etc.
You may also wish to bring an energy bar or protein snack/drink/fruit.
Please bring snacks and plenty of water. As the weather may be cold on the peaks, you may want to bring a flask with a hot drink. After the hike, there is a local pub where we can go for post walk refreshments.