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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zOSULKUS6aBMOt16xjPe6U6wFHEP4_Q1eQ1uDdOfcnGaenhXcwi-76XyStKytDQ1Lctb3kg_Dt_zDEX1TbmdEejkp_3jFLdeODs84l6XmVo-0r7VneXSUoXs7GMGMY80_GbYMoeB9Ik/s1600/DSCF3784.JPG


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sliding on my bum

walking the snowy bank

sanoodi route to follow

Wilderswood, Winter Hill ,Horwich in the snow up to 3ft in drits -4 to -6 c

 Two Lads and winter Hill mast - view from wilderswood car park

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 unsuitably
dressed, 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"

today the weather was - 4c dropping to -6c combined with scrambling along a  ice covered stream with a water at 3C,  the  snow was waste high for Jake in several parts of the  scramble,  The road was passable with care (I saw two local  cars get stuck and they were just moving their cars off the driveway to the small car park opposite their houses , get stuck up here and  you have a long walk in these temperature's with wet -ice covered clothing( in this case ) is not a a positive experience for a 7 year old!

http://www.sanoodi.com/routes/wilderswood-snow-304302/

ice stream scramble

 me on the ice -scrambling down a set of steps

 me stamping on the ice BANG!

 me waking on the ice

the ice is slippery

me sliding dawn the ice

a branch is in the way  

 this snow is slippery

Note from Dad insulate yourself when sitting down -Jake enjoyed the Hot chocolate !

 giant block of ice

 Mine audit in the snow -this is blocked after a few meters

 tree in the way

going in the and through the water tunnel 

exit to a tunnel

Cabin Pit

note from Dad :change of gloves  was all that was needed to keep Jake warm - picking up ice out of the water was too much for one set of gloves!

see Jakes other Blogs for more information  and pictures in the summer,
http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/wilderswood

http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/search/label/Wilderswood%20water%20tunnel



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

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

Bolton Mountain rescue
http://www.boltonmrt.org.uk/go.php?page=main

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 , 

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

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