Wednesday 27 May 2026
Third of Nine Circular Walks to Complete the West Pennine Way – Belmont to Rivington
Twelve walkers set off from San Marino’s car park in Belmont on a lovely sunny day with a welcoming breeze. We crossed the man road and ascended Winter Hill along the West Pennine Way, admiring the wonderful views. On reaching the broadcasting transmitter we turned left, pausing at the memorials before we followed the paving stones to our left across Smithills Moor and the steep ascent up to the reservoir.
Reservoir Rivington Moor
We kept the reservoir to our left as we walked alongside its southern edge before turning right and descending steeply through the woods and out onto the road. We turned right and had our coffee stop at the stone marking the 1896 trespass to reclaim the right of way over Winter Hill.
coffee stop
We diverged slightly from the original West Pennine Way route as the Wilders Wood path is closed and instead walked along the road past Gilligant’s Farm. We continued following the West Pennine Way marked route, bearing left on the path at Holdens Farm, crossing the footbridge and ascending gradually up to Two Lads, two cairns thought to be the site of ancient burial mounds. After admiring the view before us we made the steep and tricky descent to Pike Cottage. We turned right on the stony track before ascending Rivington Pike. We did not linger at the tower in the wind but admired the views before we made our way down the steps and back onto the track which we followed right before bearing left to enter Rivington Gardens where we had our lunch on the shaded rocks by the fountain overlooking the Italian Lake.
Lunch
After lunch we continued to the Pigeon Tower.
Pigeon Tower
This marked the end of the current section of the West Pennine Way. We made our way back by turning left onto the track and following the main higher track (Belmont Road) skirting the edge of Rivington Moor with Winter Hill now on our right. On reaching Rivington Road we turned right before crossing the stile on our left to follow the path bearing right as it ascended Hoar Stones Brow, overlooking the road below us to our right as we headed back towards Belmont. Upon reaching Rivington Road again, we turned left then right at the main road to continue the gradual ascent back to the car park having completed a thoroughly enjoyable, varied and quite challenging twelve mile walk further enhanced by being able to have admired the views in the lovely weather.