Continuing our exploring the West Pennine Moors, this 90-square-mile area of wild, unspoilt countryside is a rural haven. The best way to discover this patchwork moorland with its numerous reservoirs, historic villages and dense woodland is on foot. This week we turn our attention the westernmost side of the moors with a photo walk around Rivington, Lower Rivington Reservoir to be exact.
Constructed between 1850 and 1857, Lower Rivington reservoir is one of ‘three lakes’ of Anglezarke reservoir, Upper and Lower Rivington reservoirs together with Yarrow reservoirs that form part of Chorley's own mini lake district. These moors collect rainwater that ends up in the taps from wigan to Liverpool.
There is plenty of parking around the Reservoir but with this been our first time around the reservoir we chose to park near the Great House Barn Information Center, BL6 7SB, so we could get a map. There is a car park at the barn but it was full and so we parked over the road. The car park was free of charge.
This is quite a busy walk and so the car parks can fill up quickly. Not only does this lead to walks around the reservoirs but you can go upto Rivington Pike or explore the Terraced Gardens. This is a more challenging walk which is not suitable for wheelchair users. We have done this walk last summer but I wasn't running the blog then so an excuse to go back as the views from the top of the pike were amazing. On a clear day you can see the Welsh Mountains, the Cumbrian Fells and even the Isle of man if you are lucky.
So we headed down the drive, crossed over the road to the Great House Barn which houses a cafe and in the adjacent buildings is the information center, where we bought a map for just £1 and public toilets. The map is also on a board outside.
The map shows lots of different trails that are good for walking, cycling and horse riding which makes Rivington appealing and pleasant for all. The trails are colour coded and easy to follow and the map states which is suitable for who. We decided on the Blue Trail: The Castle Loop. The trail is suitable for all abilities, assisted wheelchairs and pushchairs. We set off from the Great House Barn Cafe through the car park and just followed the blue posts to the Castle. Well maintained paths all the way round though muddy due to all the rain we have had lately. Quite a lot of this walk was through ancient woodland and only get to see the reservoir mainly on the first part of the walk.
The map explains that much of what we see around Lower Rivington reservoir is owed to William Hesketh Lever, who grew up to be a wealthy self made man (he founded Unilever) fancied himself has a amateur landscape designer. He designed the area currently named Lever Park. By following the blue trail it takes in the sights of Liverpool Castle. This was one of his bold landscapes designs. It looks like a ruin and its meant to! Liverpool apartanly used to have a ruined castle before it was demolished in 1725. Lord Leverhulme designed this small scale replica.
We left the "Castle" and continued our walk following the blue posts, taking in some more woodland paths that lead back to the Great house Barn where we had lunch at the Cafe, although nice was quite expensive. There is plenty of picnic benches near Go Ape if you choose to bring your own.
This was an really nice walk, nothing too taxing and the first one that my daughter, her boyfriend and the Grandpup joined us on which made it even more enjoyable.
Thanks, as always, for taking the time to read. It's much appreciated.
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