Winter Hill Sunrise

25th January 2025


 
 
 
 
 

 

Overview
Ascent: 770 Feet - 234 Metres
Summits: Two Lads - Winter Hill
Weather: Partly Cloudy, Light Breeze Freezing Level At Height. Highs of 3°C Lows of 2°C Feels Like -7°C
Parking: Parking Spaces, Wilderswood
Area: West Pennine Moors
Miles: 6
Walking With: On My Own
Ordnance Survey: Explorer 287
Time Taken: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
Route: Wilderswood - Wilder's Moor - Two Lads - Rotary Way - Winter Hill - Rotary Way - Smithills Moor - Holden's Plantation - Wilder's Moor - Wilderswood
 

Map and Photo Gallery

 
 

Dawn over Horwich and Bolton 2°C 07:16am

The cold I spoke about during last weekend's Fairfield walk turned into deadly man flu, leaving my head feeling twice the weight with a weeklong headache to boot. By Friday I thought I was starting to feel better, and despite turning the lads down for a walk, I started planning a walk in Lakeland, my thoughts turning back to High Street for the 'the walk that got away,' a Mardale Head Round but I'm not fully recovered from the lurgy, so I thought I'd stay local and do something that I've been meaning to do for ages but somehow I had never gotten around too.

I hadn't had the best night's sleep and slept through my alarm waking up ten minutes before I was due to leave the house at 06:30am. By 06:31am I was in the car feeling a bit worse for wear due to the rush. It only takes half an hour to drive the nine miles to Wilderswood, where I parked with ease and kitted up using my head torch. I'd already laced my boots up back at home, so it was just a case of adding my beanie, gloves, and down jacket. The main question now was do I use my mobile for photos or the big camera?


Pre-dawn views over Horwich and the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
I went with the big camera as even in night mode my mobile was trying to introduce too much light into the photos, I could have faffed around more with the DSLR but time is of the essence plus it's not really my thing. Even from a Wigan fan the stadium looks great all lit up but that name, what a mouthful eh.

Dawn over Bolton 07:19am

A last minute change in forecast saw a build up of cloud scuttling overhead bringing with it a few patchy hail showers, in my haste to leave the car I'd forgotten my camera bag thankfully just two showers passed and lasted about ten minutes before the skies cleared.

Despite the early hour I'd already been passed by two fell runners who left Rotary Way for the new slabbed path through the moorland; their head torches lighting the way as their voices faded into the distance.


 
 

Bolton from Two Lads summit 07:34am
It really was a make it up as I went along route my only goal being to see the sunrise but with time to spare I headed up onto Two Lads via the new slabbed paving the lower section of which had a nice coating of ice to be wary about. Nevertheless, I was soon standing on Two Lads summit taking in the dawn light over Manchester.

Here looking towards Adam Hill and Burnt Edge.
Time to pull myself away and link back up with Rotary Way where I spotted a dog walker heading towards the mast his/her dog had one of those neon collars that lit up in bright green. I guess I should follow the light then.

The view back from Rotary Way.
As I'm passed by another fell runner heading down. The Waning Crescent Moon looking really clear in the dawn sky.

Wisp of cloud ...
...nope that's another hail shower heading towards Bolton.

The pre-dawn light begins to intensify 07:45am
Just twenty minutes until sunrise now.

More hail on its way.
Capturing the hail and cloud dramatics added to superb pre-dawn light.

The shower passes.
Leaving clear skies in its wake.

Winter Hill Transmitter Mast.
I'm not exactly sure what time the red aircraft warning lights are due to be switched off but I'd expect anytime now.

Cable Anchor.
Viewed as I pass the Transmitter Station.

The most southerly mast.
 

Sunrise from Winter Hill summit 08:05am
You couldn't make it up and I couldn't do it again even if I tried. I found myself at the summit at exactly 08:05am as the sun began to rise in the eastern sky.

The sun climbs quickly.
My only worry being was the sun going to climb directly into the cloud above?

The cloud breaks.
As the light turns the underside of the cloud into a deep red hue.

Sunrise over Counting Hill.
Not really having a plan on where to head next I followed the direction of the sunrise south towards Counting Hill.

And had the most amazing views.
 

Wire fence, Counting Hill.
I walk a little further south encountering semi frozen bog whilst weighing up my options, do I brave the bogs or head over Smithills Moor?

Sunrise from Smithills Moor.
The slabbed path through Smithills Moor seemed the more sensible option plus, I still had direct views of the sunrise.

The light was fantastic.
For the few minutes it lasted.

Views opening out over Deanmills Reservoir.
As half a dozen fell runners come into view as do the skyscrapers of Manchester over to the right.

More hail on its way towards Manchester 09:04am

The crisp dawn light was soon replaced by a spectacular brightness that spread across the moorland in equal measures. Sheep grazed off to my left flank while to my right I spotted a solo figure summit Two Lads. To the south, skies filled with hail unleashed their contents over the suburbs of Bolton and Manchester as the sun continued its ascent; light filtered through the darkness, and once the hail had passed I was left squinting again. It had been a blustery cold morning, causing my tears to dry on the side of my face. It was still early, but more and more people were appearing, mainly dog walkers, as I left the moorland for Holden's Plantation, passing Gilligant's Farm, where I spotted a tractor towing a metal roller in a nearby horse paddock.

I ummed and ahhed about whether to head over to White Brow and Adam Hill now that the sun was back out, but I figured the ground would be wet and muddy and decided against it. A woman dog walker held the gate for me as Rotary Way was reached while below, Lower Rivington Reservoir set against blue skies filled my vista. The car park at Wilderswood was full now with cars double-parked, the sunshine enticing early morning walkers out as I began my walk back to the car, were two passing lads asked, was my camera just for landscapes? I went on to explain that I'd been out since 07:00am to capture the sunrise. My enthusiasm about how good the sunrise was made the lads smile before they walked off in the direction of Two Lads. I unlocked the car, remembering that I still had a flask of hot Vimto which I finished off before setting off for home.


 

Back to top