Anglezarke Circular


 

 

 

Leader:         Steve Harris

No on walk:  22 + 2 dogs

Weather:      Initial light rain then bright sunshine

Distance:       11.5 miles

 

We set off from Rivington top barn and made our way past the Rivington and then the Yarrow reservoirs on our way to White Coppice. By the time we got to White Coppice the rain had stopped.  After a brief stop for snacks we started the ascent to Great Hill, noting the Neolithic/Bronze Age tumulus known as Round Loaf.  We then had lunch at Drinkwaters, a deserted farmstead.  At this point Shirley Northcott told us about the widespread belief among locals that Great Hill had been a decoy aerodrome during World WarTwo.  

 

We then continued to Great Hill and from thence towards and along Spitlers Edge, a long moorland ridge.  It was while on this part of the ridge that we encountered a man and a dog coming the other way.  It appears the man was on his phone and the dog’s lead was extended a great distance.  The dog rushed at our member Peter Lang’s dog, Elsie and held her in a vice-like grip.  It was only prized away after brave efforts of Peter and other members.  Elsie was injured, with a deep bite but was able to continue the walk.  In the event, Elsie appears to be making a good recovery and the other dog’s owner admitted liability and said he would pay vet bills.  

 

We continued nearly as far as Hordern Stoops and then made our way to Lead Mines Clough, where those members who were not familiar with it made their way to the monument which commemorates airmen killed when their Wellington bomber crashed near Winter Hill in 1943.  The rest of the party waited by the small stream which runs through Lead Mines Clough.  

From there it was a mile or so back to our start point at Rivington top barn.

Photos can be seen 'here'

 

Steve Harris