Rivington Pike Walk
1.9 miles (3 km)
Walk Report by David Parsons
Rivington Pike is one of those walks I keep coming back to because there is so much to see in a relatively short distance. This circular route is just under 2 miles and climbs to the 363m summit, but it feels much more varied than the distance suggests. On this visit I was lucky with the weather, with clear skies and excellent visibility across the surrounding countryside, which made the views from the Pike particularly impressive. It also meant it was a popular walk with lots of families and dog walkers enjoying the route.
I started from the Pigeon Tower car park and headed through the woodland towards the Rivington Terraced Gardens. This is one of my favourite parts of the walk, as there is plenty to discover before you even start the main climb. I passed the distinctive Pigeon Tower before continuing through the gardens, with the Japanese Gardens and its tranquil lake providing another pleasant section of the route. The old features and winding paths give the area a real sense of history, and I found myself stopping several times to take photographs rather than simply heading straight for the summit.
The climb becomes more noticeable after leaving the gardens, with a series of steps eventually leading up towards the Pike Tower at the summit. The clear weather really made a difference here. I stopped at the top to take in the views and could see across the West Pennine Moors and towards the coast, with the excellent visibility allowing much more distant features to come into view. It's a great feeling to reach the top after the short climb and find such a wide panorama waiting for you.
After spending some time at the summit, I descended through Lever Park to complete the circular route. Although it's a relatively short walk, I wouldn't rush it because there is so much to see along the way. Some of the paths can become muddy after wet weather and there are uneven sections and plenty of steps, so I would recommend decent walking footwear. There are also miles of additional trails around Rivington if you want to make the day longer, including routes around Rivington Reservoir and Anglezarke Reservoir, or the climb towards Winter Hill.
After finishing the walk, I headed over to the Rivington Village Green Tea Room for some refreshments. It's a cosy place to stop after the walk, with a good choice of snacks and meals and an outdoor area that is particularly pleasant on a sunny day. It's also very dog friendly, so it makes a convenient stopping point if you've brought your four-legged companion along for the walk.
For me, Rivington Pike is much more than a simple climb to a viewpoint. The terraced gardens, Japanese Gardens, waterfalls, woodland, Lever Park and historic Pike Tower make the short circuit feel like a proper little adventure, and on a clear day the views from the summit are the perfect finishing point.
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Nearby Routes
Rivington Reservoir Anglezarke Reservoir Winter Hill Healey Nab Brinscall Abbey Village Reservoir Withnell Nature Reserve