Liverpool Castle & Rivington Pike

Equinoxial perambulation. Starting from the Dovecote carpark, I walked along the large open paths of Lever park and down through beech woods towards Liverpool Castle and Anglezarke. From there I headed uphill through the woods and emerged on a promontory leading to Rivington Pike. Continuing along the ridge with breathtaking views of Anglezarke and out towards the Irish Sea, I took a dip into the terraced (Chinese) gardens, and ascended towards the Dovecot tower. From there, a mile or so brought me back to the car park. Fabulous walk just following my nose on familiar tracks. One thing that struck me was that despite the relative lateness of the year, the trees and bushes were shy and still only in bud, with catkins predominating over leaves. There were very few people about on this day, but those I did bump into were prepared for a long natter and to open their heart's treasures to a stranger. 

Turton & Entwistle and Wayoh Reservoirs

This is probably the best walk I know with proximity to a large town (in this case, Bolton). That said, circumnavigating both of these reservoirs is a distinctly rural experience, and particularly with Wayoh reservoir, it is possible to walk almost all the way around it without encountering a soul. Naturally, you can flex this walk and do one reservoir or the other. I have done it/them in various combinations; Turton & Entwistle only, Wayoh only, and on this occasion both. It really helps that the car park, and the fabulous real ale pub the Strawberry Duck, is centrally situated between the walks. There is even a train station with half-hourly trains. All this within a stone's throw from Bolton, and so few locals enjoying it. Like William Morris said, we sit starving amidst our gold.