Topped by Rivington Pike and overlooked by the Pigeon Tower, Rivington Terraced Gardens was designed and built in to the hillside on Rivington Moor for Lord Leverhulme around a 150 years ago. Following his trips to the Far East Lord Leverhulme was inspired to build replicas of the stunning gardens that he saw there. Japanese pavilions, ornate lakes with waterfalls and oriental flowered gardens were built for the people of Bolton to enjoy.  After his death, the gardens were left abandoned but many of the summer houses bridges and lakes remain intact. The ruined remains of the gardeners’ cottages can be explored today along with the Grade II listed stairways…

Jumbles Country Park in the Bradshaw Valley was opened in 1971 by Queen Elizabeth II. The woodland here is home to Sparrow Hawks, Kestrels and Grey Heron, with foxes and Roe Deer often seen. Perfect for active families and an ideal and very picturesque spot for a picnic. This 2mile walk is of medium difficulty, flat most of the way but there are some steep climbs and steps along the way – the surface is uneven, often muddy and slippery in places all year round. This place is loved by our Huskies especially when the Country Park Cafe is open for ice-cream

Walker Fold on the Smithills Estate is the largest site the Woodland Trust has ever acquired in England. In the shadow of the Winter Hill mast, this site is teaming with wildlife and steeped in history, with everything from Neolithic and Bronze Age relics to Roman coins being found in the stream and ancient woodland. With panoramic views of Bolton and the city of Manchester beyond, this mix of grassland, moorland and wooded cloughs crisscrossed by dry stone walls is not for the faint hearted but well worth the trip. Our Huskies favourite walk across the tops to the mysterious Two Lads – said to be the burial mounds of…

Inspired by Liverpool Castle which was destroyed in the Civil War, the Lever Brothers magnate Lord Leverhulme commissioned a replica to be built in 1912 overlooking the reservoir on his Rivington estate. After his death in 1925 work was halted leaving the castle resembling the ruins of the original. Now weathered and overgrown this is an ideal place to explore with the Huskies who love to play in the ruins and run through the tree’s close bye. This gentle 2.5-mile round trip is flat and easy-going, and a visit to the Tea Rooms at Great House Barn halfway round is the cherry on the top – their homemade cakes and…

Located just outside the Village of Turton near Bolton, the reservoir was created by the construction of Entwistle Dam in 1832. A major feat of engineering at 108 ft high and 110 metres long, it was the largest in the UK at the time. Originally built to regulate the water flow to Bradshaw Brook which powered several major cotton mills at the height of the Industrial Revolution, it now serves to provide 50% of Bolton’s water supply.       Although manmade, the reservoir looks stunning and very natural.It’s tear-drop shaped shores are lined with thick woods of fir trees which are home to squirrel and rabbits which are easily seen at the…

Just outside of the ancient village of Tockholes on the Western edge of Darwen Moor, this Victorian wood is a real gem and a favourite with dog walkers.  A mixture of stony bridleway, steep slopes and often muddy paths, the circuit criss-crosses over the River Roddlesworth featuring waterfalls stone and wooden bridges and two huge reservoirs. Our Huskies are very at home here in the wood and love a good splash in the stream any chance they get. This is a 4 mile round trip, with a great pub restaurant The Royal Arms as well as the Ramblers Country Café at the start/finish. It can be quite challenging dependant on…