Pennine Walker, a photographic walking diary

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​7th April 2012 - Great Hill & Spitlers Edge

Walk Details

​Distance walked: 8.7 miles

Total ascent: 1172 ft

OS map used: 287 - West Pennine Moors

Time taken: 4.5 hrs

Route description: Crowfield Road car park, just off A675 Belmont Road-Witton Weavers Way-Higher Pasture House-Belmont Reservoir-Belmont-Ward's Cote-Rivington Road-Hordern Stoops-Spitlers Edge-Great Hill-Pimms-A675-Calf Hey Bridge-paths through woods-Crowfield Road car park, just off A675 Belmont Road

A walk in my local patch, the West Pennine Moors. It's been many years since I'd last walked across the moorland of Spitlers Edge and Great Hill, so a visit was long overdue. The weather wasn't too bad, though a few, fairly light showers passed through as I was heading across Spitlers Edge.

I started from the United Utilities car park on Crookfield Road (free). The first part of the walk was along the Witton Weavers Way until Belmont Reservoir was reached. I made my way down to the reservoir and walked across the dam. The A675 was then crossed and a footpath to Ward's Cote farm taken. I went through the farmyard and took the path that heads across the moorland towards Rivington Road. At the summit of the road I then headed north across the moorland top of Spitlers Edge to the summit of Great Hill. A lot of the path along here has been flagged and a good job too. Even with the pretty dry weather we've had recently the ground around the path looked wet and there was standing water around. After having my lunch in the substantial shelter on Great Hill I then made my way downhill to Belmont Road. I crossed the road and the last bit of the walk was a pleasant walk through woodland back to the car park.

Route map
Picture
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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At the start of the walk and Winter Hill can be seen in the distance
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Spitlers Edge, the second half of the walk
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Belmont Reservoir with Winter Hill behind
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Crossing the dam. The buildings belong to Bolton Sailing Club, no-one was out sailing today though. I wonder if that had anything to do with the gulls nesting out on the island in the reservoir. I wouldn't want to be out on the water with them for company.
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Belmont and Winter Hill
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Winter Hill from the path upto Rivington Road
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The view down past the village of Belmont
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and in the distance the remains of last Wednesdays snow on the Pennines
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Winter Hill as I make my way up onto Spitlers Edge
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West Pennine Moors
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Great Hill ahead
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The view across to Darwen Moor
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Thank goodness for flagged paths
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Winter Hill from Great Hill
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The view down across Withnell Moor to a distant Forest of Bowland
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Darwen Tower and Moor with Pendle Hill in the distance to the left
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Panorama from north round to east
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A pleasant start to a woodland walk beside the River Roddlesworth...
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At the ruins of Hollinshead Hall
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and the ruins themselves. The Well House is the intact building.

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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2023                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2022
    • Walking Diary 2021
    • Walking Diary 2020
    • Walking Diary 2019
    • Walking Diary 2018
    • Walking Diary 2017
    • Walking Diary 2016
    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
    • Walking Diary 2013
    • Walking Diary 2012
    • Walking Diary 2011
    • Walking Diary 2010
    • Walking Diary 2009
    • Walking Diary 2008
  • Lake District Walks
  • Peak District Walks
  • Yorkshire Dales Walks
  • Forest of Bowland, Pendle & West Pennine Moors Walks
  • South Pennines Walks
  • Walks in other areas
  • Links Page