Afternoon Stroll on Winter Hill

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This was just a gentle afternoon’s stroll, mainly on paths not shown on the map. I didn’t have any particular route in mind, just going wherever came to mind next, whilst heading towards Dean Ditch. I started from the layby on Winter Hill (grid ref: SD657 127), then walked up onto Two Lads hill.

The grid references are taken from the map OS287, West Pennine Moors (courtesy of TrackLogs Digital Maps).

From there I followed an unmarked path that goes past an old, long since disused coal mine (grid ref: SD656 136) that took me close to the large telecommunicatrions mast at the top of Winter Hill. The picture was taken at about grid ref: SD655 139 looking towards Horwich. Near the top of the picture, on the right, is Lower Rivington Reservoir.


On reaching the mast I crossed the road and followed the paved path for a short distance before taking a path off to the left and soon came to the Dean Ditch (grid ref: SD663 145). The picture shows the view towards the village of Belmont. Beyond the village is Belmont Reservoir, and just towards the left in the distance is the highest part of Darwen Moor (and if your eyesight is better than mine you might just be able to spot the Jubilee Tower).


This picture shows some of the other, smaller masts on Winter Hill.


This picture shows the view looking along the wall at the side of the Dean Ditch, with Counting Hill in the distance (grid ref: SD671 141). Although I didn't have time to check it out on this visit, I'm told this wall is nearly two miles long and goes down to Horrocks Moor (grid ref: SD668 134).