I hadn’t anything planned at all for the weekend (well anything that didn’t involve me putting my walking boots on) but as a Wigan Athletic fan comes the hangover of a 0-6 defeat at home to Chelsea, yes the score line was drowned out with plenty of beer but the memories & hurt are still there the morning after, I could of sat on the couch all day wallowing in my stupor & self pity that next season we are looking at championship football, I could of spent it on the laptop or Xbox but I didn’t.

Rivington Pike is a clear half hour drive away from my house, it and Winter Hill dominate the skyline all around Wigan & as my house is situated on the top of a hill so to speak its the first thing I see when I open the bedroom curtains every morning, If its not there then we’re in for a dull day!

I’ve visited Rivington quite a lot, more so in my teens tearing around the country lanes in our Vauxhall Astra’s & Nova’s making  general tits of our self’s, I’ve even cycled up to the transmitter on Winter Hill but never actually made a meal out of the walk, nothing too planned so to speak. Today wasn’t an exception, I just needed to get out the house or its going to be another Sunday wasted & as I’m booked up for next weekend too, that’s another weekend not out on the Fells, so I grabbed Owen, took Lucy’s lead & headed off for Winter Hill.

Passing through Rivington Barn Hall where every weekend is a meeting place for anything on two wheels,.that BBQ does smell good though!

Owen & our Westie Lucy making there way through a small section of woods on route.

Seven Arches Bridge, much of the structure is hidden by shrubbery, we would cross this bridge on our return.

And a short while later we reached Rivington Pike spectacular summit, this castle tower  like cairn can be seen from miles around & on a good day its said can be seen from the Cumbrian Fells, I’m not to sure if that’s true but through the haze & although my camera isn’t powerful enough to picture them I can see the Welsh Mountains, the Flyde Coast & Blackpool Tower from up here.

The telecommunications mast on Winter Hill with the path in the foreground.

Winter Hill & sadly a hill too far for us, poor Lucy is really feeling the heat, I did want to try & get up to the mast but I honestly don’t thing  Lucy shares the same enthusiasm!

Squirming as I write this..the Reebok Stadium.

The Pigeon Tower, built in 1910  The top room used to be used by Lady Lever as a sewing room, which gave wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Ornamental doves and pigeons were kept in the lower two levels, so Paul no prison eh!! twerp!!

Yarrow & Anglezarke Reservoir’s, the town behind is Chorley.

I’m not quite sure if this pond was part of the Chinese gardens or in actual fact a swimming pool for Lord Lever the once owner of this estate.

Owen looking down on the path from Seven Arches Bridge.