A Walking Guide to Rivington Pike
Each year, employees working at Regatta head office volunteer to lead their colleagues on a hiking trail they're familiar with.
This time, the destination was Rivington Pike; a popular place to wander in the North West of England without travelling as far as the Lake District.
In typical British fashion, it was absolutely pouring down, but nonetheless we thought we'd document our experience and share some useful info about the local area for those that fancy walking up Rivington Pike themselves.
The hike is around medium difficulty and it's full of landmarks to keep you oriented, it's also suitable for dogs. However, there's a lot of steps along the way and the paths are uneven, so this route isn't suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs.
So without further ado, here's your essential walking guide to Rivington Pike, including how to get there, where to park, what to bring and where to chill out after your hard earned steps.
Rivington Pike Walk: Your Essential Guide
Where Is Rivington Pike?
Rivington Pike is in Chorley, Lancashire, next to the town of Rivington near Horwich and Bolton.
The summit itself is actually on Winter Hill, though on our trip we didn't include the extended walk around the top of the hill.
Where to Park When Walking Rivington Pike
There are a few different places you can park for this walk. When we went, we parked at Rivington Hall Barn, which is free to park however it does get busy, especially when it's warm. Another option is parking on the street on the roads approaching nearby, but spaces are few and far between
Alternatively, there are a few spaces here just past the nearby school.
I'd say the second best place to park would be Lower House Car Park. It's a tad further out, and parking is paid for on a voluntary basis (roughly £2) as it's ran by Rivington Heritage Trust.
How High Is Rivington Pike?
Rivington Pike is around 363m above sea level at the summit, marked by the Pike Tower. On a clear day, you can see as far as Southport coast, or even a glimpse of the Lake District.
For us, it was not a clear day. You couldn't see a thing. But that's all a part of the adventure out in the wet weather.
Thankfully, there are some lovely sights to see on the ascent, including the Terrace Gardens, the Japanese Lake, and before you reach the summit, you'll encounter the Pigeon Tower.
How Long Does It Take to Walk Rivington Pike?
The length of your walk will largely depend on which route you take, your fitness and how long you want to spend exploring the Terrace Gardens, or whether you want to venture off trail and check out some of the lesser-known waterfalls, like Tigers Clough.
Our journey through the Terrace Gardens and up past the Pigeon Tower to the summit was around 1:30 – 2 hours, and the route was a gradual incline that got steeper towards the top. If it wasn't pouring down, we might've ventured forth onto the rest of Winter Hill.
There are a few different routes you can take around the local area, and if you'd prefer not to do the full journey around Winter Hill, you could do the circular walk down by the lower reservoir instead and end your trek with a drink at The Rivington.
If you prefer a longer hike and want to include Winter Hill, you could consider doing the route below instead:
What Equipment to Bring On Your Walk up Rivington Pike
The Rivington Pike walk isn't hugely challenging, so you won't need to bring a whole lot with you. I'd say only if you were intending on walking around Winter Hill it'd be worth bringing a few extras like snacks and more robust outdoor clothing (though this largely depends on the weather).
Like all hikes, it's always worth wearing some comfortable clothes. If you're going when it's warm, you'll be fine in a t-shirt and some walking shorts, you could also get away with wearing a pair of trainers.
If you're seeing grey skies, you might want to opt for a pair of zip-off trousers instead, or carry a packaway jacket in your backpack.
The later part of the journey does get more exposed, so if you're heading out in the rain you'll definitely want to make use of the layering system. At the summit you'll thank yourself for bringing a proper waterproof jacket, fleece and walking trousers. Footwear wise, Rivington Pike gets very boggy along the way, so you'd be best off wearing a pair of walking shoes to save your favourite trainers from getting all muddy.
Things to Do Near Rivington Pike
If you're visiting with the kids or just fancy making a day of it, there's a couple of different things to do near the walking routes; so you won't have to go straight back to driving as soon as you're done with the walk.
Down by the lower reservoir, when it's hot you'll often see people lay down nearby. If you're taking the circular walk mentioned earlier, you could decide to stop here for a picnic break.
Equally, right near the lower reservoir there's also a Go Ape high rope course with a zip-line, which allows kids over 10 years old. You'd be best booking this in advance to ensure availability.
As for food and drinks, conveniently they're also down by the lower reservoir. There's The Rivington bowling green - which is great on a sunny day, offering open views of the reservoir thanks to an overlooking beer garden / bowling green. Dogs are allowed here, but only outside.
Across the nearby bridge there's also Rivington Brew Co's tap room, where you can enjoy locally brewed craft beers (it's also dog friendly). If you're fortunate enough to have your owner camper van, Rivington Brew Co also have their own motorhome and caravan site which you can book for a short stay.
Lastly, there's the Great House Barn tea room where you can choose between hot drinks and food or sweet treats. There's a good chance you'll have parked near here anyhow, so it's a nice way to end the day out, and a better choice of venue if it's raining out.
