Blue John Cavern

The spectacular Blue John Cavern is famous as the place where the mineral Blue John was found and mined, a form of Flourite which can be seen in various places throughout the cavern.

Shaly Dingle

Part of the West Pennine Moors, Winter Hill itself is a well-known area for hiking and other outdoor activities, but tucked away on the north slopes, on the edge of the open-access area, Shaly Dingle not so much.

Winter Hill Mines

Winter Hill has been mined extensively since before historic records begin and evidence of several historic types of mine can be found in the local area, including early 'bell pits', primitive tunnels, extensive 19th century underground workings and more recent open cast mining remains.

Winter Hill Tunnel

From the top of Winter Hill a very old tunnel, presumably a mine, known as the Winter Hill Tunnel once led down under the hillside

Rivington Moor Colliery (ruin)

The remains of the old Rivington Moor Colliery towards the summit of Winter Hill.

Rivington Moor Brickworks (ruin)

An 18th Century brick works relying on clay from the adjacent mine.

Hole Bottom Mining Area

The Hole Bottom area was mined around the mid 19th to 20th Centuries. Focussing on an area to the east of the current mast road and from the south of Hole Bottom and northwards towards the area of the Five Houses.

Wildersmoor Pit Kilns (ruin)

A remains of a series of primitive 'pit kilns' beside a footpath leading up Wildersmoor on the south slope of Winter Hill.

Prospect (ruin)

An ruined farmstead below Brown Hill, overlookng the town of Horwich.

Rivington Moor Bell Pits (ruin)

A group of possibly quite ancient 'bell pits' on Rivington Moor together with an old, stone sheep pen.

Owshaw Clough Mine Filtration Ruins

The ruins of a old mine drain filtration system in Owshaw Clough.

Round Barn Quarry

A large, disused quarry, overgrown but interesting industrial archaeology and dangerous underground closeheads.

Smithills Colliery

J H Ainsworth's old coal mines in the area around Smithills Hall.

Victoria Main Colliery

An old colliery or coal mine that closed around the turn of the 20th Century.

Raikes Clough Colliery (site of)

The site of an early colliery beside the River Croal in Bolton.

Rough Bank Colliery (ruin)

The overgrown remains of Rough Bank Colliery

Aspull Sough

The Haigh Sough was driven into the rock to reach mines on the local Kings and Cannel coal seams in 1657 by Sir Roger Brandshaigh to provide drainage. The sough was later extended eastward in the 19th Century.

Kirkless Wood

A post-industrial woodland area dominated by a huge spoil heap now appearing as a wooded hill.

Worsley Delph

The canal tunnel entrances and wharfe for the Duke of Bridgewater's navigable levels.

Engine Vein

A mineral vein in the Alderley Edge copper mines, said to have been a site of mining activity for over 4000 years.