The Three Lakes of Anglezarke.

Start. Rivington.

Route. Rivington - Horrobin Lane -Upper Rivington Reservoir - Breeding Pond - Yarrow Reservoir - Knowsley Lane - Anglezarke Reservoir - Moor Lane - High Bullough Reservoir - Anglezarke Reservoir - Knowsley Lane - Upper Rivington Reservoir - The Street - Horrobin Lane - Rivington.

Notes. Constructed between 1850 and 1857 to a design by Thomas Hawksley the well known “Three Lakes of Anglezarke” are, Upper and Lower Rivington Reservoirs together with Yarrow. The impressive chain of reservoirs spans the length of several small valleys, our route also included High Bullough which pre-dates the others, originally constructed to supply water to Chorley and is often overlooked. As often happens with the construction of reservoirs several small hamlets and an inn were abandoned and drowned when the valleys were flooded.

We were in Lancashire visiting our grandson Jack, it was his idea to go for a ramble, so that’s what we did. After parking in a small car park tucked behind Rivington Primary School just off Horrobin Lane, we descended said lane to The Rivington (pub), the lane runs across the dam wall separating Upper and Lower Rivington Reservoirs, we turned right onto one of the service tracks. By way of service tracks and minor roads we rambled on, a short loop guided us around High Bullough, the oldest of the reservoirs in the chain.

Once round we re-traced our steps to the dam wall carrying Knowsley Lane across the valley, we then followed said lane to access another lane running along the west shore of Upper Rivington Reservoir. This guided us passed Blindhurst and Cuncliffe Farm before ejecting us back into Horrobin Lane, all that remained to cross the dam wall and head to the bar of The Rivington.

view route map.

home.

Lost in conversation.

Near Yarrow Reservoir viewing Rivington Pike.

Testament to the popularity of this area, plenty of people in front loads more behind, over the embankment to the right Yarrow Reservoir.

On view over Yarrow Reservoir, Rivington Pike.

Seen from the spill way of Yarrow Reservoir, Rivington Moor, to the left Winter Hill with it's TV and telecommunication masts, on the right Rivington Pike home to a squat tower, just visible.

With my back to Anglezarke Reservoir views up the Yarrow spill way.

The view along the east shore of Anglezarke Reservoir.

En route to High Bullough Reservoir.

High Bullough Reservoir pre-dates the others, originally constructed to supply water to good citizens of Chorley.

View taken over Anglezarke Reservoir from the dam wall carrying Knowsley Lane across the valley.

Upper Rivington Reservoir with Rivington Pike on the horizon.

On the approach to Horrobin Lane, our route back across the flooded valley.

The waters of Lower Rivington Reservoir and.....

....in the other direction Upper Rivington Reservoir.

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