SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER 2025
Completing a circuit of Entwistle, Jumbles and Wayoh reservoirs in the area of Turton in the West Pennine Moors is a classic Lancashire walk. Popular with hikers from far and wide, my variation of the route will also include historic Turton Tower and a section of the Witton Weaver's Way.
This is a very interesting area to visit and there are lots of facts and stories to discuss and sights to see while out on the trail. From spooky Bogarts, submerged farmsteads, civil war battles and an ancient fossilised "Calamites" trunk, participants will be offered a wealth of local knowledge from start to finish.
The overall route is 18 kilometres, or just over 11 miles, and is expected to take between 6 - 7 hours at a moderate but steady pace. There will be intermittent breaks at multiple sites of interest and it's really not a route march.
Limited to 8 PARTICIPANTS
at £18.50 per person.
The Three Reservoirs walk packs a fair punch with the distance involved and participants are likely to have tired legs afterwards. The terrain beside the bodies of water is quite flat and some of the connecting paths include moderate undulation or gentle slopes. There are a couple of tougher uphill sections, but any such ascent is short lived. Expect to encounter mud, and plenty of it in some sections, and a little uneven ground in places. Overall, this activity is suitable for anybody with good mobility and a moderate level of fitness.
​
The route I have designed will lead us from the Strawbury Duck down to the woodland beside the reservoir known locally as "Little Wayoh". We will cross a series of small streams and pass by the site of "Know Mill", which was closed in 1962 to allow for this extension to the main water catchment to be flooded. Crossing Hob Lane, participants should be wary of mischievous activity from the local Boggart who is known to play crafty tricks on unsuspecting walkers.
​
Heading southwards, we will pass alongside Wayoh itself and climb to a scenic vantage point that looks out across the water. We will then head through Edgworth village, through Turton Bottoms and beside Bradshaw Brook towards Jumbles. This next stretch leads down the east shore of Jumbles, past the café and toilets, through a pleasant meadow around the Kingfisher Trail and, finally, up to Shady Lane. From here, we will continue northwards along the west shore to the disused site of Jumbles Quarry, where there is a fossilised Calamites - an ancient plant from around 350 million years ago.
Finalising the first​ half of the outing, we will take a muddy slope through a wooded area towards Chapeltown Road, passing a peculiar Pill Box that dates back to the second world war, and eventually arrive at the old reinforced dwelling of Turton Tower. There will be lots of historical discussion as well as a break for lunch, where it will be possible to make use of the Woodland Café and toilet facilities.​
_edited.png)
Once rested, fed and watered, we will once again hit the trail. The next section takes us across the railway and onto a stretch of the Witton Weaver's Way that utilises a well surfaced bridleway beneath the hill Cheetham Close. The route will lead us past the site of the disused Chapeltown railway station and up into the picturesque village of Chapeltown itself, where there is a plethora of historical facts to share with the group.
​
We will drop down Embankment Road to the western shore of Wayoh, and follow the simple path around to the Armsgrove Viaduct and up Armsgrove Clough. This is a beautiful area at all times of year and can offer a spectacular display of colour and a really pleasant atmosphere. This could possibly be the highlight of the walk.
​
Emerging at our third and final reservoir, Entwistle, the surroundings will change somewhat. Walkers are
presented with a vista of coniferous trees and a wide, open expanse of water stretching northwards up the valley.
We will basically wall the entire circumference of Entwistle, passing by really pleasant woodland and of course
"The Wader", a really nice metal sculpture of a heron that stands out on a dam close to the edge of the reservoir.
​
The final stage will take in the eastern shore of Entwistle before hitting Overshores Road
and climbing up one last hill that leads back to the Strawbury Duck.
​Important details about this specific activity.
​
The entire route accrues 18km, or just over 11 miles, with around 300m ascent, and is expected to take 6 to 7 hours​. This activity is usually quite a social outing with lots of discussion, time to take in the scenery and enjoy a lunch break at Turton Tower - expect a gentle to moderate pace throughout.
It is necessary to have good mobility and a moderate level of fitness to take part in this activity.
There are some some light hillside slopes, exposed tree roots and uneven terrain. If an individual is for any reason unsure of their ability, please email me via moorstomountains@gmail.com and we can discuss things further before making a booking.
If the walk leader observes a concern with fitness levels of an individual participant,
it may be necessary for that person to return the start of the activity for their own safety, where it is safe to do so.
​
Waterproof trail shoes, waterproof hiking trainers or more sturdy boots are suitable for this activity.
Please refer to the Moors to Mountains Footwear, Clothing and Equipment Requirements.
​
Certain breeds of dog are welcome to attend by prior arrangement only.
Children and young people over the age of 14 are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian by prior arrangement.
Please bear in mind that the activity duration is calculated based on average walking speeds over the types of terrain encountered and previous occurrences of this specific route. The activity may be completed in a quicker or longer time than expected based on individual fitness levels within the group.
As mentioned, it is necessary to have good mobility and a moderate level of fitness to take part in this activity.
​​​
It should be mentioned that weather in the West Pennine Moors can be unpredictable at all times of the year and so it isn't possible to guarantee excellent views on every walk. It may be necessary for the walk leader to change the itinerary of the route for safety or other reasons, meaning that is is not possible to included certain advertised objectives.
Unless there is a safety concern posed by the weather forecast, activities will go ahead regardless of conditions.
​
Please see the Moors to Mountains Terms and Conditions before booking.
​​​
​
​​
Meeting point and transport information.
​The activity meeting point is Entwistle Railway Station (BL7 0LU / design.incisions.slams). Parking is available very close by on Entwistle Hall Lane, or a 10 minute walk away at the main car park for Entwistle off Green Arms Road (BL7 0NG / crossing.nightfall.roughness).
​
Participants should meet at the time advertised on the booking page. You will be contacted if there are any changes.
​​​
There are usually hourly trains available from Manchester Victoria, Bolton, Darwen and Blackburn. Lots of various accommodation is available in the vicinity of Edgworth and Bolton including hotels and B&B's. It is advisable to book accommodation well in advance to avoid disappointment. Please ask me if you need advice on where to stay or transport links.
​
​
​
What to expect when booking a professionally
guided activity with Colin from Moors to Mountains.
A friendly and supportive group ethic is promoted on all activities.
It is normal for participants to feel anxious or nervous about joining a guided walk for the first time, meeting new people or just stepping out of their usual comfort zone. This is normal. Please try to remember that other people in the group will likely be feeling the same, and I can assure all participants that they will be making new friends and feeling comfortable in the surroundings in no time.
​
Knowledge and enthusiasm is shared throughout the activity.
Not only am I here to keep you safe and lead the group, I like to engage all participants in interesting conversation. Whether we are visiting a site with interesting geology and natural features or perhaps somewhere of historic significance, I like to make sure participants go away having learned something new. And as an environmentalist and lover of the outdoors, it is my mission to try and pass on my passion and knowledge to all who sign up to a Moors to Mountains activity.
​
Safety, motivation and attentiveness is guaranteed.
All Moors to Mountains activities are designed for smaller parties. The number of participants that is allowed will depend on the terrain of each specific activity. Suitable group sizes allow me to give each individual client the maximum attention throughout an activity, whether this is to answer questions, provide some guidance or physical assistance.
My promise is to deliver a high level of care and individual attentiveness to each member of the group.
​
It is not a race, everybody is here to enjoy the activity!
The benefit of booking onto my activities for small groups for many participants is that the reasonable pricing makes joining a qualified, knowledgeable and experienced Mountain Leader to be more affordable. However, participants in each group are likely to be of mixed abilities. All participants will move together as a group and support each other throughout the activity. If you are a very fit and fast hill walker and would like to experience more of a physical challenge, I am available for private bookings that may be more enjoyable for you than my usual group activities that are at a moderate or even gentle pace.
​
I am qualified, insured and experienced in the mountains and hills of the UK.
As your guide, I am a qualified and insured Mountain Leader registered with the British Mountaineering Council and Mountain Training Association. I will only ever operate in areas where I have experience of the terrain and local knowledge. I have also volunteered with my community walking group for since 2011, where I have organised and led innumerable walks and expeditions across the whole of northern England, many areas of Scotland and Eryri/Snowdonia in North Wales. I also have a lot of personal experience in walking, wild camping and completing solo expeditions in these areas.
In that time, I have been lucky enough to spend time out on the hills and mountains with many people of different backgrounds and abilities. This experience has enabled me to develop an extensive knowledge of particular outdoor areas, and a penchant for designing routes that are both scenic and interesting. There are often places of historical or geological interest along the way and I enjoy sharing my knowledge of the landscape, history, industry, wildlife and geology.
​
​​
​
​Once a place has been booked on any activity.
I will personally contact each participant by email with any relevant information to the specific activity. The booking system will email participants a ticket but there is no need to present this when attending an activity. Participants will be sent thorough information and a Participation Consent Form that should be completed in good time before any activity takes place. This will ask for important medical information, important contact details and also request consent for me to give first aid where necessary, take any photographs (or not) and anything else relevant.
​
Thank you for reading and I hope to see you on the activity.
COLIN - MOORS TO MOUNTAINS.