Woodlands Trust: Smithills Estate

A walk through history and nature on Smithills Estate

- Walk devised by Heather Swift site manager for the Woodlands Trust and described by Bob Clare

The Woodland Trust the UK's largest conservation group for woods and forests has as its mission to protect, restore and create woodland as a vital community asset for people all over the country.

Here in the North West it is engaged in its largest and most ambitious project having purchased the Smithills Estate on the edge of Bolton. This is an area of 1,700acres and is twice the size of the largest English site to date. The Estate is diverse - wild moorland, farmland, grassland and mixed woodland dominated by the highest mast in Britain at the summit of Winter Hill.

As well as its obvious natural heritage the Estate is full of historical interest as well. The bleach works near Barrow Bridge set up in the 19th century was the biggest in the world employing over 600 people. Now all that remains is its chimney (one that Fred Dibnah from nearby Bolton unaccountably missed!)

The route described below takes you past the memorial stone commemorating the mass trespass of 1896 when 10,000 townspeople took part in a demonstration to assert their rights to roam the moors. Through its stewardship the Woodland Trust has ensured that this area remains open access land to pass on to future generations.

Start: Walker Fold car park and information point What3Words:///seats. ripe.earth

Fact file

Distance: 7 m

Time: Allow 3-4 hours