As part of the training for the 2018 Chester Ultra
Marathon, Dave McDonald and I decided to take part in the Anglezarke Amble.
It’s a Long Distance Walking Association event with a choice of two circular
loops heading out of Rivington Village Hall in Bolton. Runners are made welcome
too (but start an hour after the walkers). We took the longer of the two routes
of 25.5miles climbing over Rivington Pike, Winter Hill, across Moorlands to
Darwin Hill and Tower and then looping around to take in the ironically named
Great Hill (which really isn’t!) back to Rivington. The time of year adds to the
challenge. As we had the pre run briefing in the Village Hall we were warned
that Snow had forced the move of one of the pit stop check points as the four
wheel drive couldn’t get to the original location! Nice!
We started at 9.00am in rain that turned to sleet and fog
as we immediately started to ascend to
Rivington Pike. The mud under foot
turned to slippy ice on the climb. The summit was shrouded in mist so not a
great deal to see other than the pike monument.
From there we continued to climb up to Winter Hill which
at 1500ft was the highest point of the run and really was bleak in the
conditions.
A few miles of steady descent across snowy moorland saw
us catching up with first Harold from work who was walking and then Stuart (who
previously joined us on our #BikesBoatsBoots adventure). A quick hello and then
on around Turton and Entwistle Reservoir (whose dam was once the highest in
Britain).
The first pit stop was very welcome before making the
long but
gradual ascent along undulating and boggy tracks to Darwen Moors and
the ascent to Darwin Tower. I’ve worked over in Accrington on and off for nearly
19 years and the Tower is visible on my commute from the M65 but this is the
first time I’ve seen it up close! Again the weather meant that the views out to
the Irish Sea were obscured in mist and sleet!
From Darwin Tower a short descent took us to Roddlesworth
Woods. Another Pit Stop at Slipper Lowe fortified us you for the climb
over Great Hill. This really was a climb through bog land mire! Walking was
slow and laborious, running seemingly out of the question! At last we reached
the ascent and then a slippy and muddy descent down White Coppice saw me lose
my footing falling head over heels through mud! Fortunately the soft mud broke
my landing and saved me from any injury but I was covered in it!
A final pit stop at White Coppice Cricket field and the
undulating trek back to Rivington to finish in 6 hours and 18 minutes.
The LDWA events are extremely well organised and great
value for money… Where else can you get pit stops and a meat and potato hash
with mushy peas at the end!
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