Christmas day and Wilderswood

Christmas day , I had a great day today , we went for a walk and watched films and played with our new toys , we had a really good breakfast and roast beef for our main meal.

Me and Leo

These are Leo’s Hand prints

 

Leo

We had Italian pancetta , Croissant and scrambled egg for Breakfast
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancetta
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croissant

I liked this

Leo enjoyed the breakfast – scrambled eggs and Croissant

Evie looks at her presents

one of my presents

Evie is opening one of her Presents

I am very happy the Game I wanted

Leo opens his main present from out Nana

Leo likes his new present

one of the Art books Evie got

This is the Pin art -my Hand !

Walk around Wilderswood
we did this last year but it had snowed
http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/12/wilderswood-in-snow-horwich-christmas.html

our route this year
http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/61690758

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in the woods

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/wilderswood

Evie in her Pink coat

Evie and mummy

Love the mud !

They have planted new trees to replace the pine trees which were cut down
the Pike !

walking towards Cabin pit

I am running up the track

having a look at the stream which flows underneath the track here

running past  there are a lot of mine tunnels under where we are

part of the old mine buildings

some odd holes in the walls ?

this is old pit head !

Iron trough

The pike

an old rail from the old mine used as a fence post !

Looking over Horwich and Blackrod

winter Hill mast and the two lads and of course my hat !

Wilderswood , Horwich family walk

Leo exploring on my dads back

mine adit – this is blocked after a few feet very damp and wet and full of mud !

can you see the pike ? we are going to look at the dragonflys on the pond

walking towards Ormstons farm
http://www.ss-osands.org.uk/ssosands/beep/horwich/timeline2.htm
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=4b3af9cc-9607-4e80-913b-786a61a4df87

old mine workings

one of the horses -sign says do not feed
 Leo with his hat on this walk he kept on taking it off

Leo on the walk – i picked his hat up several times

me and Evie stroking a horse

the mast and the old tramway

mine adit – this is dry but blocked after a few feet – goes towards cabin pit but does not link up 😉

this area has been felled

Evie hiding 😉

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/wilderswood


my first blog a year ago 
http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/07/wilderswood-mines-and-tunnels.html


http://justramblingon.co.uk/country-walks/rivington/to-the-wilderswood/
http://prestonwalkies.blogspot.com/2007/04/wilderswood-and-winter-hill.html
http://www.about-horwich.co.uk/horwich/Wilderswood_Mill.html
http://justramblingon.co.uk/diary/diary-2011-week-18/

route taken
http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/wilderswood-horwich-family-walk-312610/

Rivington Pike to Brown Hill to Back of sportsman’s cottage

looking at Leo who is in the back carrier – pike in the background

Lower Rivington reservoir

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Rivington_Reservoir

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Rivington_Reservoir

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/jed/rivington_reservoirs.htm

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/landscape/landscapecharacass/charcarea9.asp

http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/journey/underground/reservoir/history.shtml

Leo

wall marks the boundary between Chorley and Horwich

An old bottle top

on the way to the pike over the gate

view towards the mast

http://www.heatherandhillforts.co.uk/index.php/en/about/heather/71-bilberry

Yes I am eating Bilberries !

crooked edge and the two lads

http://www.about-rivington.co.uk/acatalog/Rivington_Pike.html

http://www.angelfire.com/in/rivington/

http://www.bolton.org.uk/pike.html

http://www.rivingtonboardingkennels.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivington_Pike

http://nwex.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6595

if you wanted to know what it looked like at the top of the Pike !

http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/winterpike.html

http://www.about-rivington.co.uk/acatalog/Rivington_Pike_Folklore.html

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/Brown%20Hill
Brown Hill

someone has planted a garden on the side of  river Douglas

River Douglas  
https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/img028661.jpg
http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/12/rivington-pike-rivington-horwich-bell.html
http://prestonwalkies.blogspot.com/2010/04/quick-walk-up-winter-hill-from-belmont.html

http://www.bolton.org.uk/winterhill.html

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/cy/ymchwil/cynllunio/33512.aspx

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/River%20Douglas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Douglas
http://www.bolton.org.uk/rivington.html
http://www.boltonmuseums.org.uk/collections/local-history/social-history-images/200296?term=postcard&s_tags=&sort_by=Title&item_number=199&b_start:int=0
http://www.brianherald.co.uk/home/58422_moorland-stream.html
http://www.wiganman.co.uk/Content/history/Douglas-1.html
http://www.about-rivington.co.uk/acatalog/Rivington_Pike_Tower.html
https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/me-in-the-snow-two-lads-rivingtonbrown-hill-river-douglaswilderswood/

old sheepfold –

Note from Dad Pre-historic swirls?  one distict and one less you can feel the one on left , with two it is unlikely just to be random !

Bell Pit

old mine level or adit

pike in the background this is tough grass for me

yes roly poly time !

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

taking a break !

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

old shaft ? or collapse ?
nothing is marked on the circa 1900 map of the area

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/rivington-pike-brown-hill-mines-312370/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivington_Pike
http://www.about-cumbria.co.uk/section/6501/winter-hill-boundary-wall/

Winter Hill Mine trails, two lads to winter hill mast pits, Horwich

the pike and the reservoir and Wilderswood and wilders moor

across these -these cattle grids have hedgehog ramps in them 🙂

on the way up the two lads

we are with Leo today so i have my boots on !

Adam Hill ( left) and white Brow from the two lads

someone has rebuilt this

I was careful not to knock any of the stones off

two lads with the mast in the background

carefully coming off the two lads middle brook in the background

I can still run but have to wait for my dad as Leo is in the back carrier and does not like to run yet !

the mines are on the left hand side – you can just see some evidence of the tips

this shaft is blocked off

one of the flooded shafts

learning how to drink safely on the moors -dont do this unless you check to see where the water comes from

Leo looking at me eating bilberries
http://www.heatherandhillforts.co.uk/index.php/en/about/heather/71-bilberry

eating Bilberries

sitting down to eat – pike is in the background

old shaft -capped

another drinking source

Old shaft near the mast

the masts at the back of Winter hill

testing my balance

Old shaft

me doing a roly poly

Leo asleep

one area of old bell pits near the brickworks

practicing going under a fence without damaging the fence or Me!

one of the old bell pits

this area has a lot of bell pits and waste mounds

old pipe ?

someone has been digging here – this is from the area near the brickworks

Leo has just woken up !

http://www.daveweb.co.uk/whvol2.pdf
P48

“Although Winter Hill is a wonderful “playground” and a place of great
beauty and fascination for many of us, we should always be aware of the
hidden dangers at all times, and do all we can to minimise them.
Unfortunately, many of us like the bleakness and solitude of the place,
and often go wandering around on our own – and at times when there is
perhaps nobody else around on the moors – and in the most appalling
weather conditions! Some would call us foolhardy, but this is our choice
and what we choose to do – and we would defend our right to do just this
– so long as we are all aware of the possible dangers and we dress and
equip ourselves to minimise the risks.
In poor weather never underestimate Winter Hill. The bogs really ARE
there. The visibility really CAN vanish totally within 60 seconds. The
body surface temperature plus the chill factor for those unsuitablydressed, really CAN drop to –10C or more on top of the Hill.
DO take care on Winter Hill ….. but enjoy it! Remember. It CAN bite”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Hill_(North_West_England)

http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/ENG/WINTER.GIF

http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=SD660144

http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/winterindex.html

http://www.about-rivington.co.uk/acatalog/Winter_Hill_Mines.html

http://www.mineexplorer.org.uk/winterhill.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT_hAN0HGEA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff69PQ0GEFU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR_1i2eCkl4

http://www.lancashirewalks.com/WinterHillArchive.pdf

http://about-cumbria.co.uk/section/5039/flooded-mine-tunnel-under-winter-hill/

http://www.about-rivington.co.uk/acatalog/Winter_Hill_Water_Tunnels.html

Rivington Pike, Rivington, Horwich – Bell pits drift mine and river Douglas ice stream walk -6C

Up the stream -which is River Douglas

http://www.wiganman.co.uk/Content/history/Douglas-1.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Douglas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Hill_(Lancashire)

http://uk.ask.com/wiki/River_Douglas

http://justramblingon.co.uk/tag/river-douglas/

http://justramblingon.co.uk/country-walks/rivington/winter-hill-panoramas/

http://prestonwalkies.blogspot.com/2010/04/quick-walk-up-winter-hill-from-belmont.html

http://www.bolton.org.uk/winterhill.html

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/cy/ymchwil/cynllunio/33512.aspx

 

 

http://www.wiganman.co.uk/Content/history/Douglas-2.html

http://www.wiganarchsoc.co.uk/content/Projects/Roman_mining.htm

 

 

a nice waterfall

beautiful ice crystals

three fingered ice monster

big  ice crystals

 

these banks are steep and have a lot of loose snow

me on the snow

Note from Dad:

reason for Hot Chocolate from a flask -don’t use water based drinks they freeze and the ice crystals irritate the stomach , unless you protect them from freezing !

Mine Building ? -has three doorways or gateways ?

 

 

a video of the bell pit s in this area

3 Bell pits in a row

me sitting down next to a bell pit

 

http://www.about-rivington.co.uk/places-in-britain/location/winter-hill-mines/winter-hill/lancashire/england/

http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/whvol1.pdf

http://www.daveweb.co.uk/whvol2.pdf

 

 

a big bell pit

drift mine ?

 

 

 

 

me in the ice river

 

icicles

me sliding down the ice

 

looks like water 🙂 I am on the left  hand side against the tunnel wall

me in the ice tunnel

lots of ice

 

https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/dscf3784.jpg

https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/img00148.jpg

https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/img00149.jpg

 

sliding on my bum

walking the snowy bank

 

sanoodi route to follow

 

Wilderswood in the snow , Horwich , Christmas day walk 0C to -3C

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/gb/rivington/203129323512595105

weather good , small family walk

old gate post at start of Wilderswood

sledging again

Rivington pike from wilderswood

deep snow

ice river

I had been down this the other day , the river goes into one of the water tunnels which is blocked ,

https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/img027052.jpg

https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/dscn1028.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

adit for mine ,

https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/img027182.jpg

 

 

iron trough

https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/img00118.jpg

 

mine building for the main shaft at wilderswood

 

http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/wilders1.html

 

http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/wilders3.html

 

 

 

shaft -capped

https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/img00122.jpg

main colliery  winding buildings

https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/img00123.jpg

still blowing cold air – which is warmer than the surrounding rocks melting the snow!

cabin pit shaft buildings

https://jakeofwinterhill.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/img027252.jpg

 

 

 

quarry terrace

I love running in the snow

 

 

 

 

 

me back at the car ,

note from dad:Two lads is to the left , Georges lane in the snow , the compact snow made it easier to drive on as the road is normally heavily potholed

 

http://www.mineexplorer.org.uk/winterhill.htm another mine site
http://www.horwichheritage.co.uk/heritagecentre.htm Horwich Heritage centre
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=52990 Horwich history overview

 

Darwen Moor mines , Turn Lowe, Blackburn and Darwen , mist and -2C

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/467113

known as  Pasture Barn Farm ruins

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/11/cranberry-moss-bull-hill-darwen-old.html

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/11/cranberry-moss-bull-hill-darwen-old.html

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1838580

Winter Hill with the Fog coming in you can see the plane trails high in the sky – mast is to the right

me on the ice

Note from Dad: most of the route was clear but ice patches on the top were found

iron pipe in the grass -from the Mine?

me looking at the ruins

a old building

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28709338@N04/3426482035/

better photo of this type of  Brick

Brick from Joseph Higson Daubhill Brickworks Bolton

http://www.boltonrevisited.org.uk/s-about-daubhill.html location of Brickworks,

a metal pipe ?

Note from dad :some aspects of the building were odd for a farm

mist coming in over the mine above the farm ruins – the other half is flooded

in the mist at Turn Lowe,  The mist took 30 minutess to come down across our route making it cold and difficult to see,

me on a capped mine shaft – poor visibility which got worse as it became dark

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/467091

better day and photo!

another shaft

old mine shaft and a mine  tip

me doing a roly-poly down the hill – have fun as well !!

Route we took

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/darwen-moor-mines-304074/

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/darwen-moor-mines-304076/

history of mines in this area

http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?language=eng&amp;pageID=1251

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_collieries_in_Lancashire_since_1854

About the area around Darwen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwen

http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/

http://www.darwenfc.com/

http://www.darwendashers.co.uk/

http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?pageid=418&amp;language=eng

http://prestonwalkies.blogspot.com/2010/08/darwen-moor-and-jubilee-tower.html

http://www.unitedutilities.com/Roddlesworth.aspx

http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.20535&amp;viewPage=2

see section Section 20 – 21

Fairy Battery,Turton and Entwistle reservoir,Bolton -3 to – 6c no Snow!

This is our third blog with places with the name of Fairy in them

the other two are

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/09/trou-des-fees-fairy-caves-virton.html

fairy caves -Trou des fees ,this was in Virton Belgium

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/11/family-walk-fairy-steps-boulder-climb.html

Fairy steps -this was in Beetham ,Cumbria

me walking on ice

there is water flowing underneath this ice I am staying to the safe parts !

ice crystals

in the quarry

can you see me ? advantage of Hi visibility clothing !

memorial bench  by Bolton Holiday fellowship

memorial bench

http://www.hfholidays.co.uk/about-us

http://www.hfholidays.co.uk/get-involved/activity-clubs

link to Bolton’s HF

memorial bench in memory to Craig Tuppen

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/483239
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/424991
these are better photos!!!

Fairy Battery, an outcrop of rock popular with climbers.  The site was the secret meeting place of non-conformist worshippers in the 17th century.  Opposite the outcrop on the other side of the stream is a quarry complex with extensive mine caverns, now filled in. – taken from Blackburn and Darwen council site

me on top of Fairy Battery, I am being careful as there is a big drop on the other side!!!

climbing up a boulder  this was slippy and covered with ice

very little to grip onto !

??? ditches they just seemed to be filled with water ?

bell pit -we had seen this from Cranberry moss
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/44053027
right hand side of photo

we saw  several mines around the top of Fairy Battery.
http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/11/cranberry-moss-bull-hill-darwen-old.html
our last adventure was to Cranberry moss last weekend 

giant icicles

some of the rock outcrops  in this area

some of the sites about the reservoir

http://www.lep.co.uk/lifestyle/walking_turton_and_entwistle_reservoir_1_84828

http://www.northturton.com/walks_res.html

http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=767

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Entwistle,_Lancashire

http://www.entwistlefamily.org.uk/local_history.htm

http://www.unitedutilities.com/Wayohreservoirs.aspx

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/fairy-battery-entwistle-303810/

Spooky Wilderswood in the dark at -4 to -6 C, Winter Hill,Horwich,

Note from Dad :

Route early evening in complete darkness  -4c through to -6c with ice found on the path and rocks, we are also testing new high visibility clothing, new strobe safety equipment on a clearly defined path,  this area and route is known to me and Jake in both  poor weather conditions and at night, both Children have previously  experienced temperature’s down to – 21C on a regular basis in winter when they lived abroad – basic family activities like going  to the supermarket from the car have to be done at -21C ,  Both Jake and Evie have multiple high performance layers on them to undertake this walk , we have online GPS tracking. we take our safety very seriously! Please be careful now the weather is getting colder and it is getting darker ,

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/wilderswood

some of previous Blog posts exploring in this area

this is my new coat

the back of my new coat -we are testing the strobe lights and the increased reflective patches

walking  through  Wilderswood

This photo is the same doorway (looking the other way )as the Photo below – the difference being one is at  night  you need to careful – things you are familiar with look very different at night

remember this  photo with the sheep ?

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/08/two-lads-from-wilderswood.html

SPOOKY Wilderswood

ice on the path be careful

me and Evie having a hot drink !

our route:

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/wilderswood-303656/

Wilderswood Mill

http://www.about-horwich.co.uk/horwich/Wilderswood_Mill.html

walking route’s in this area

http://prestonwalkies.blogspot.com/2007/04/wilderswood-and-winter-hill.html

http://www.middle-age-shred.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&amp;t=15988&amp;start=0

Underneath this route 😉

http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/wilders1.html

http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/wilders3.html

One of our routes

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/wilderswood-294070/

some of the Birds in this area –

http://www.manchesterbirding.com/horwichmoorssiteguide.htm

Good ideas for day time Heritage trails in this area

http://www.horwichheritage.co.uk/publications.htm

History of Rockhaven castle – old house on this site before the wood

http://www.about-horwich.co.uk/horwich/Rockhaven_Castle.html

Cranberry Moss, Bull Hill, Darwen, – Old mines,Quarries and Old Brickwork site ?.

Stone quarry
Note from Dad this was in line with the mines found later but no sign of any coal mine waste

on top of the quarry

looking towards the mines

hot chocolate on top of a mine waste tip

can you see Darwen tower ? and me of course !

to collect water ?

on top of a yet another  mine

 

 

mine entrances

stone sleeper ?

to another  mine  -in line with the quarry

long stone – part of the mine ?

I love hot chocolate -see the bricks?  – another old mine

another mine shaft

DANGEROUS BOG-KEEP OUT

Bull Hill Brickworks ?

brick kiln

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2010/11/disused-turton-moor-collierybrickworks.html

see the picture of the Bull Hill Brick from this Kiln ?

two deer can you see them ?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Roe_Deer

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/roe-deer

last of the mines we saw – we came across around 32 old mines -too many to inspect each one

more photos on my http://www.panoramio.com/user/4875445

reasons for this area being full of mines ?

“The Entwistles used to sink little pits on Cranberry Moss, They were what was called Darwen yard mines .just a  few yards deep, coals were bought up by windlass, and sent to Turton, there was  fighting amongst the men. Some of them were too lazy to go down for coal, but when it was brought up they would fight for its ownership”

http://www.blacksnape.co.uk/history/blacksnape.pdf

referance to Darwen yard mines

http://cottontown.org/page.cfm?LANGUAGE=eng&pageID=1251

Our route

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/cranberry-moss-bull-hill-darwen-303478/

weather Cold  below 4c, High chill factor, Jake is now in winter grade clothing , we have changed Jakes socks to include a  waterproof /Breathable layer plus thermal layer, He has brand new Walsh PB’s for increased traction.

 

 

Useful links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Darwen

Information about the River Darwen which starts on Cranberry Moss

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1979-11-13a.1136.5

Bull hill maternity hospital

http://www.winnersh.demon.co.uk/Family_History/fhisch1.htm

reference to mining at Cranberry moss

http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?LANGUAGE=eng&pageID=1261

fireclay accidents – mines on cranberry moss

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cmhrc/lom08lan.htm

reference to mine in this area