Rivington Pike is one of the most popular walking destinations in the north west.
The views from its summit stretch to Winter Hill, Rivington Reservoir, Cheshire, and even all the way to the Lake District and the Isle of Man on the clearest days.
But halfway up the broken cobbled paths to the top visitors stumble across an unexpected pocket of zen.
With a trickling fountain, man-made islands and caves, and trees trailing their branches into the water, it's a tranquil oasis halfway up the climb to the top.
This is the Japanese Lake, and is part of the Rivington Terraced Gardens, which spans about 45 acres of the hillside.
The lake was built by Lord Leverhulme, the founder of Lever Brothers (now Unilever), inspired by a trip to Japan.
In its heyday, it would have consisted of a lake fed by two waterfalls, Japanese tea houses, lanterns, and exotic plants.
While many of those features are a thing of the past, the lake is still a sight to behold - especially in spring and early summer when ducklings call it home.
The Terraced Gardens were constructed between 1905 and 1925, mainly designed by architect Thomas Mawson.
The gardens also include the familiar Pigeon Tower, the Seven Arch Bridge (or Lever Bridge), the Italian Lake, and miles of staircases and winding paths to explore.
After Lord Leverhulme's death, the gardens fell into a state of disrepair - the houses demolished and the gardens left to be ravaged by nature.
The land is now owned by United Utilities, and the Rivington Heritage Trust repair and conservation project is underway.
The gardens were named as one of Britain's best 'Lost Gardens' by BBC's Countryfile in 2014.
