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Today my friend John and I decided to take the dogs for a stroll across Anglezarke Moor to visit Great Hill and the Neolithic burial mound called Round Loaf. The hot conditions made it hard work at times for me, but the excellent views also made it well worth the effort.

The route was planned using Ordnance Survay map West Pennine Moors, courtesy of Track Logs Digital Mapping.


I parked the car on Knowsley Lane, that runs between Anglezarke and Higher Rivington Reservoirs, then John and I, together with my dogs Brett and Sam, crossed the road and walked to the sharp left bend and took the path into the woods. Grid ref: SD621 155.


At the top of the climb the path meets the one that runs alongside Yarrow Reservoir (it’s just on the other side of the high grassy bank shown in the top of the picture) where we turned left to head towards Parsons Bullough Road.


Pretty soon we reached the end of the path at its junction with Parsons Bullough Road, where we turned right for Allance Bridge.


At the point where Parsons Bullough Road turns sharp right to cross Allance Bridge we went through the gate straight ahead and took the path into Lead Mines Clough. Grid ref: SD627 160.


After a short climb the path meets several others near another footbridge. The one going sharp left would take you to Jepsons Gate and Moor Road, the one straight ahead would take you into Lead Mines Clough and the remains of an old pump house, and the one going off to the right would take you on a route past several derelict farms (possibly the subject of a future walk).


We took the path to the right, but then immediately went through a gate in the fence and continued walking alongside the River Yarrow.


There is a parallel path on the other river bank but I find this one just a little more scenic.


This path eventually took us to yet another footbridge, where John and I crossed the river close by the remains of the old pump house.


This path then took us uphill to join another path, where we turned right and continued uphill to the war memorial commemorating the crew of an RAF Wellington bomber that crashed there during the second world war. Grid ref: SD628 165.


To the left of the war memorial there is a gate in the fence. From there we went diagonally left uphill across a field to another gate leading out onto the path to Jepson’s Gate.


For the very few occasions this gate is locked, there is a step-over stile next to it to ensure you don’t get snagged on the barbed wire fence.


After a short walk along the path we arrived at Jepson’s Gate, where we went straight ahead on Moor Road. Grid ref: SD623 169.


Moor Road descends to go past this farm near Manor House.


Just past the sharp right bend near Manor House we went through this stile in the wall on the left. Grid ref: SD620 171.


From there we went straight across a small field to another stile leading to a steep descent into the woods above Anglezarke Reservoir. Care is needed on this descent, especially if the ground is wet.


On the way downhill the path comes to a junction with another path coming in from the left. Bear right here and continue downhill past the tiny High Bullough Reservoir. This reservoir was built to supply water to the nearby town of Chorley, but is no longer connected to the water supply and remains as a lovely little nature reserve. Grid ref: SD618 171.


At the other end of the reservoir we came to a junction with another path where we turned right (ignoring the steps straight ahead).


After an excellent stroll through the woods alongside Anglesarke Reservoir we came to the stile at the junction with Moor Road close by Waterman’s Cottage. Grid ref: SD615 178.


We crossed the road diagonally left and went through the gate in the fence that gave access to the path towards White Coppice.


This picture gives a view of Stronstrey Bank that leads up onto Anglezarke Moor, and includes an old disused quarry that is now often frequented by climbers.


This picture shows John standing on the footbridge over Dean Black Brook. The brook comes from high on Anglezarke Moor and not far from Great hill. Near White Coppice it is guided via old walls to join the Goit, a water channel designed to deliver water from Roddlesworth Reservoir to Anglezarke Reservoir.


The gate on the left leads to the very picturesque cricket pitch at White Coppice. This little hamlet is well worth a visit, with its lovely houses and cricket pitch, but unfortunately that will have to wait for another time as our route was straight on. Grid ref: SD620 190.


After a few hundred yards of uphill walking the path veers right (the path straight on goes to the village of Brinscall).


On hearing the sound of heavy breathing (other than my own) I turned round to see this mountain biker coming up the steep incline. Behind him is a view of the small reservoir at the side of White Coppice.


After a good deal of uphill walking, during which I struggled in the hot conditions (my old lungs find it hard to breathe when it’s hot), we got our first view of Great Hill from the ruins of Coppice Stile House. Grid ref: SD627 190.


At this point our path meets the one coming in from Brinscall, and here we turn right.


Shortly after turing right we came to the ruins of Drinkwaters Farm. It is claimed the rare ore of Witherite was first discovered on Anglezarke Moor near Drinkwaters – named because of a clear spring nearby. Grid ref: SD636 190.


Although our path continues straight on uphill towards Great Hill, there is an alternative path off to the right which passes through the ruins of Great Hill Farm.


The final part of the path from White Coppice to Great Hill is paved and, as seen in the picture, leads to a cross shaped stone wall with plenty of seats on which we could rest and have our sandwiches. I must say this was my most strugglesome ascent to Great Hill, for which I blame my aversion to hot weather and my now feeble lung power. However, once I’d had a short rest and cadged some food from John I felt much better and ready for the rest of the walk which, thankfully, was mainly flat or downhill. Grid ref: SD645 190.


We continued along the paved path, now downhill, to meet a stile in a fence.


On clambering over the stile we veered off diagonally to the right towards a rather indistinct path that would take us in a south westerly direction towards Round Loaf.


After crossing over a muddy ditch on the left we headed past a convenient way marker that pointed our way across the moor.


As the weather in recent weeks had been dry there was little mud to be encountered on our stroll across the moor. There was an occasional ditch to cross with care but they presented little trouble on this visit.


After a short while the green dome of Round Loaf made its first appearance to our right (see top of picture).


At this point the path veered to the right to begin the final approach to Round Loaf.


At the foot of Round Loaf it’s interesting to see the contrast in its vegetation campared to the surrounding moorland. Grid ref: SD638 192.


View of the cairn on Round Loaf and of Winter Hill on the horizon.


There are a number of paths radiating out from Round Loaf, the one that would take us to the top of Lead Mines Clough headed in a south westerly direction.


After a little more strolling across fairly dry moorland the woods surrounding the top of Lead Mines Clough came into view.


Soon it was time to leave Anglezarke Moor as we headed down to meet the gravel path at the top of Lead Mines Clough.


At the top of Lead Mines Clough Limestone Brook came in from our left from its origins near the Devils Sitch. It wends it sway down through the clough to meet the River Yarrow not far from Allance Bridge in an area called The Meeting of the Waters. We ignored the wooden footbridge over the brook and continued along the gravel path. Grid ref: SD632 171.


The gate that leads into the woods of Lead Mines Clough.


Here the path goes to the right of an old stone wall, just before arriving back at the war memorial. Grid ref: SD628 165.


At the war memorial there is an excellent view of the moors and Winter Hill, as well as a couple of benches to rest your weary bones.


After a short stop to catch my breath and admire the view, we continued downhill to the bridge over the River Yarrow. Brett seems to be trying to see how many sticks he can get into his mouth.


We continued on our way downstream, with the River Yarrow on our right.


Soon we reached the gate at Allance Bridge that would take us onto Parsons Bullough Road. Grid ref: SD627 160.


A short walk along the road brought us to the gateway on the left to take us alongside Yarrow Reservoir.


Eventually we reached the junction with the path that would take us downhill to Knowsley Lane, where we turned right.


All too soon we were back to Knowsley Lane and our waiting car. Grid ref: SD621 155.