THIS local walk follows mainly gentle gradients around the numerous Victorian reservoirs that form the watery ribbon running north-south between the West Pennine Moors and the M61.

The Anglezarke and Rivington Reservoirs were built by Liverpool Corporation in the 1850s taking in the moorland catchments of the Rivers Yarrow and Douglas. This walk passes by the 1870's Yarrow Reservoir also built to supply Liverpool and the smaller High Bullough Reservoir, constructed in the 1840s originally to provide Chorley with water.

It is a pleasant meander along tracks through pastures and woodland, including the hidden Lead Mines CIough, taking its name from the numerous 17th and 18th century mine workings on this part of the West Pennines. More information on the history of this area is provided at the information centre at Lower Rivington Barn and the walk starts from here.

DISTANCE: 7 miles (allow three hours)

START: Lower Rivington Barn car park (OS Grid Ref. 628138), off Rivington Lane, 1 miles north of Horwich town centre. The lower car park (by the cafe, info centre and toilets) has a barrier that is locked in the evenings so check the time and alternatively park on the other side of the lane to the barn where there is ample parking.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Bus service from Bolton.

Use these route directions in conjunction with the relevant OS map (Explorer sheet 287 West Pennine Moors).

WALK to the rear of the cafe car park and pick up the path running into woodland alongside the Lower Rivington reservoir. At the path T-junction on the edge of the woodland turn right and follow the path running parallel to, but above, the reservoir that soon leads to a small car parking area by Rivington Primary School. Continue straight ahead past the school to reach the road. Turn left and follow the pavement downhill to the reservoir. Continue straight ahead following the road running between the reservoirs. On the far side of the reservoirs, turn right immediately along the footpath following the access road through woodland with the Upper Rivington Reservoir now on the right. Keep to the path closest to the shoreline ignoring the path forking off to the left and after about mile another road is reached at the northern end of the reservoir.

Turn right along this road and follow it back over the reservoirs. At the end of the dam follow the road around sharply to the left and it runs along the shoreline of Anglezarke to a road junction. Turn sharp left and keep to the reservoir shoreline following the lane signposted for Heapey. It soon turns sharp right uphill to a car park but ignore this and continue straight ahead through the pedestrian access. The path keeps to the water's edge and leads to woodland at an inlet to Anglezarke. Keep to the main track through the woodland and ignore a path leading off to the right. The track bears left then right uphill to the dam of High Bullough Reservoir.

Follow the track along the left hand side of this reservoir to the dam at the far end. Continue straight ahead through the gate and a path junction is reached with routes leading off to the left, right and straight ahead. Keep to the path leading straight ahead through woodland but if you want to shorten the walk by one mile you can take the path to the right leading below the dam of High Bullough Reservoir though this does climb a very steep wooded slope up to a road below a farm, the Manor House.

If continuing straight ahead the path leads through another gate and becomes an easy to follow route through pastures running parallel to Anglezarke Reservoir down to your left. Follow the reservoir to its northern end and the path meets another road at a gate. Turn right along this road and it is followed gradually uphill for about half a mile. It soon reaches the Manor House on the left by a bend in the road. Keep to the road walking left uphill then right. When it levels out and turns sharp right downhill leave it by continuing straight ahead along the bridleway beginning at a gate at the boundary of open country. Keep going straight ahead along the track around the hillside and the track drops down to a footbridge by an information board in Lead Mines Clough. Cross the bridge and turn right heading downstream through woodland before the stream is re-crossed. The track, with the stream now on the left leads to a road bridge.

Do not cross the bridge but go straight ahead along the road from here until a gate and signed track is reached on the left. Join this track running along the high dam of Yarrow Reservoir. Follow this good track for the whole length of the reservoir and beyond and eventually the Dove Tower and Rivington Pike come into view. It eventually passes a gate and is joined by another track. Keep going straight ahead here with Rivington reservoir down to your right. The road by the Rivington village club is soon reached. Turn left to retrace yours steps through woodland to the barn car park.