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.
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
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At the start of the walk and Winter Hill can be seen in the distance
Spitlers Edge, the second half of the walk
Belmont Reservoir with Winter Hill behind
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.
Belmont and Winter Hill
Winter Hill from the path upto Rivington Road
The view down past the village of Belmont
and in the distance the remains of last Wednesdays snow on the Pennines
Winter Hill as I make my way up onto Spitlers Edge
West Pennine Moors
Great Hill ahead
The view across to Darwen Moor
Thank goodness for flagged paths
Winter Hill from Great Hill
The view down across Withnell Moor to a distant Forest of Bowland
Darwen Tower and Moor with Pendle Hill in the distance to the left
Panorama from north round to east
A pleasant start to a woodland walk beside the River Roddlesworth...
At the ruins of Hollinshead Hall
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and the ruins themselves. The Well House is the intact building.