Have a wander around Rivington and you never know what you’ll find around the next corner. This village, located between Bolton and Chorley, is where you’ll discover a range of outdoor delights, from beautiful yet wild gardens to mysterious hilltop towers.
Sitting on the banks of Lower Rivington Reservoir, the village itself is made up of a handful of houses, a church, chapel, a tea room and a primary school. It’s overlooked by the West Pennine Moors and the impressive Winter Hill, a sight that’s well-known throughout the area.
There are three other reservoirs nearby, which saw the area dubbed as ‘The Little Lake District’ by the Victorians. Today it's the perfect place for a relaxing stroll beside the water's edge.
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Along the edge of Lower Rivington Reservoir lies Lever Park, which was created by William Lever - Lord Leverhulme - who founded the firm Lever Brothers - now known as Unilever. He bought huge plots of land in the area and transformed it into a park for the people of Bolton.
The park is crisscrossed with paths and it’s a great place to go for a walk. It’s also where you’ll find Liverpool Castle, an impressive ruin featuring crumbling walls, towers and arches.
Although it looks ancient, it was actually a folly commissioned by Lord Leverhulme and is a replica of a castle which once stood in Liverpool. It’s not the only mysterious structure you’ll come across in Rivington.
On the hillside above the reservoirs is Rivington Terraced Gardens, made up of paths, hidden lakes and intriguing structures. The area, which is around 45 acres in size, was another brainchild of Lord Leverhulme.
He had bold plans to construct a bungalow at the site, a tennis lawn and a Japanese Garden among other features. But the gardens were abandoned after his death so many aspects were left in a ruined or incomplete state.
A conservation project is underway by the Rivington Heritage Trust to maintain the gardens. Today visitors can wander freely around and discover the gardens’ secrets for themselves.
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Some of the highlights of the gardens include: the Pigeon Tower, which looms mysteriously over the landscape; the Japanese Garden, which features a beautiful lake, and Lever Bridge. There is a network of paths you can follow which lead you through this magical place.
Another iconic place to visit is Rivington Pike, which you can spot from miles around and on a clear day you can even see Blackpool Tower from the summit. The pike itself is a small stone building originally used as a hunting lodge, although it was bricked up to prevent vandalism.
Lever Park, Rivington Terraced Gardens and Rivington Pike are all free to visit. There are several car parks located throughout the area and maps and guidebooks are available at the Great House Visitor Centre, BL6 7SB.
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