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&t=15988&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

Dusk / Night time in wilderswood !

me in the dark in high visibility clothing

me going  into the water tunnel

old mine adit blocked after a few feet !

this water tunnel is blocked always check you can get out the other side!  

a small quarry  which was used to build the local houses

one water tunnel this is longer of the two tunnels ,caution a lot of fast flowing water!

second water tunnel  I fall in this one ! ;)

route that we took -

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/wilderswood-explore-water-tunnels-300694/ 

we followed the stream down - very fast flowing , weather was very windy , 

Horwich Heritage Wilderswood Trail

These houses, on Bridge Street, are very old and are opposite the old bleach works.

The old cart road, up to Wilderswood.

A water trough that is made of iron.

This is where the tram way track was from the mine.

A spider on my dad's leg!

This is the forest near Rockhaven Castle.

These are old miner's cottages, Brinks Row.

A brick made in Horwich.

The link to the route we took: http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/horwich-heritage-wilderswood-trail-298438/

Iron Trough,mines at Wilderswood/Rivington

this is a iron trough

wilderswood main shaft -capped

this hole is blowing very cold air!

this is Rivington drift mine.

this is a plastic bnck.!

Before the water tunnel

after the tunnel -this time just my feet got wet !



GPS Route is online at
http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/wilderswood-294070/

Links
http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/winterpike.html best mine site Rivington pike,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drift_mining what was a drift mine

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

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

water tunnels with a bright torch,Old trough? and plastic Brick ;)

this is me with my new torch in a tunnel

this is me half way through  a tunnel

this is me going up the steps

this is a water trough?

this is a hard tunnel i got very wet

plastic bnck

More exploring at Wilderswood

An adit hole for the mine.

Me approaching the water tunnel.

A drawing of the bends in the tunnel.

Today, we also visited the quarry and found 2 closed entrances.

Next week, we will be visiting Rivington or Winter Hill.


links
 link to best mine site and information in this area
http://www.d.lane.btinternet.co.uk/wilders1.html

Good local heritage site
http://www.horwichheritage.co.uk/heritagecentre.htm

Good fossil guide to this area
http://www.daveweb.co.uk/whfossil.pdf

Wilderswood mines and tunnels

I like this place because you can find interesting things.

This is the entrance to the mine shaft.

This is me in the water tunnel.

Link to a good walking site
http://prestonwalkies.blogspot.com/2007/04/wilderswood-and-winter-hill.html
Good local history site
http://www.about-horwich.co.uk/horwich/Wilderswood_Mill.html