07/08/25 - Greater Manchester Ringway - Stage 14

On Winter Hill

I once walked Hergest Ridge, so this is not the first hill walk to have a song named after it.

To get there, it's a gentle climb, following Eagley Brook, past impressive mills and through Barrow Bridge. Unusually, it rains. It never rains in Manchester. In 2025, I'm not even being ironic.

The route details are told through an Adventure Lab Cache, which sadly eludes me. The gates on the old road are firmly closed, as work is underway on replacing the supporting cables. This means I cannot bring you photos of the Scotsman’s Stump, marking the 1838 murder of George Henderson, or of the site where a Bristol Britannia crashed in 1958, killing 35 people. Other smaller aircraft accidents have happened here too, and it was also the scene of the 1896 Winter Hill mass trespass, when over 10,000 people protested against land enclosure. At 456 metres, the hill is now most recognisable for its large TV and radio mast.

Trespass Memorial

The road to nowhere

Pigeon Tower

Once across the M61, it's a short distance to Blackrod Railway station. An uninspiring "bar and grill" pub didn't look worth the wait between hourly trains.

This left time at Deansgate to make sure the Britons Protection was as I remember it. Looking good, but I don't think they have anywhere near the same number of whiskies.

Perfect Landlord, water chaser, no beer mats.

Walk Information

Start - Bromley Cross

Finish - Blackrod

Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11, Stage 12, Stage 13

Distance -  13 Miles

Geocaches - 15

Walk Inspiration