Winter Hill Sunset


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Winter Hill Sunset

17th January 2026

Overview

Ascent:	560 Feet - 170 Metres
Summits:	Winter Hill (no summit)
Visiting:	Two Lads
Weather:	Cloudy With Light Winds. Highs of 6°C Lows of 4°C Feels Like 0°C
Parking:	Parking Spaces, Wilderwood
Area:	West Pennine Moors
Miles:	3.2
Walking With:	On My Own
Ordnance Survey:	Explorer 287
Time Taken:	40 Minutes
Route:	Wilderswood - Rotary Way - Winter Hill (no summit) - Rotary Way - New Path Through Rivington Moor - Two Lads - Wilderswood

Map and Photo Gallery

Sun setting beyond Wilderswood 15:40pm 6°C

No Lakeland fells this weekend, as my mother-in-law, Sue, had to spend an unexpected night in hospital, and I didn't really want to be miles away had I been needed. I'd already walked a four-miler with Brad and Holly this morning under grey skies, but the afternoon looked more promising, so I planned to head out to Winter Hill to catch the sunset. The trouble was I'd been caught in traffic, and instead of allowing myself a good hour to summit Winter Hill and back, my time had been shortened to just forty minutes.

Looking back on Two Lads.

Despite the obvious cloud it was actually very clear with views extending as far as Fiddlers Ferry Power Station in Cheshire which can be seen between the two cairns.

A right O'l mix.

It was 6° and feeling mild when I left the car park, but due to the exposure of the moorland, the temperature feels like it's dropped into minus figures. It was a good job I'd remembered to bring my hat and gloves.

Cable anchor.

There were two factors why I didn't continue all the way to Winter Hill summit: the first being the moorland was extremely boggy, and second, if I did, I'd only have about twenty minutes to return before sunset.

Now, I don't mind walking in the dark, but because of the detour due to part of Rotary Way being closed, I'd lose sight of the sunset too.

Layers.

If you look closely you can see the cranes over the River Mersey at Bootle Docks near Liverpool.

Dramatic sunset.

I think today was probably the first time in over a hundred (recorded and unrecorded) summits I actually missed out on visiting Winter Hill's trig point, and I was beating myself up a bit on the way back, but the sunset dramatics more than made up for it.

Views towards Rivington Pike.

Blimey, its looking packed over there.

Views back towards Winter Hill beyond Rivington Moor.

Sunset from Two Lads 16:21pm

I was blowing warm air into my cupped fist for the latter mile, the light from the sunset offering no warmth other than the glow it left in the pit of my stomach as the sun descended, soon replaced by grey within the click of two fingers. Sometimes last light can illuminate the lower cloud canopy, but not this evening; minutes after taking this photo, any lingering light was lost as I crossed Crooked Edge Hill before descending onto the Pike Snack Shack, where I later learnt through their Facebook page that today they had said their final goodbye to Dudley, their 15-year-old Black Labrador.

Sleep tight Dudley.