Monday, January 7 – Anglezarke Lakes

Having nothing on this afternoon, I thought I would have a short potter around the lakes, so I started via Lostock to Horwich, with half a gale helping me along.  At the ‘Millstone pub’ on the Chorley road, I turned right, up to Heath Charnock.  A terribly paved road jogged me along to Lower Anglezarke reservoir, and taking the equally bad road round the lakeside, I reached the big quarries.  I now climbed away from the lake to Upper Anglezarke reservoir, from where a good view is obtained of the Rivington Lakes.  This road is rough and undulating, passing through some fine scenery.  After a while I reached the foot of Winter Hill, the highest of the Rivington Moors, then dropped sharply down into Lever Park, soon reaching the Great House, or Hall Barn.  Lord Leverhulme keeps some fine specimens of foreign animals in preserves by the wayside, and I saw a goodly stock of them, amongst them being Indian Cattle, Llamas and Emu’s.  The next point of interest was the ‘ruined castle’, a new edifice being built as an exact copy of Liverpool castle as it now stands.  It is to be built in a ruined state, and situated as it is, on a small headland jutting into Rivington Lake, it makes a romantic picture in harmony with the scenery when viewed from a distance.  After wandering all over the half built halls, staircases and passages, I lit my lamp, and with the wind dead against me, made my way to Horwich, and home in time for tea at 5pm.

26 miles