Drinkwater's Round

Peat stained water cascades over the wall. Water was also flowing down the little used overflow on the far side

Looking up the gorge

The path that follows Dean Black Brook - this is looking back towards White Coppice

Where the water appears to end, is where the brook splits.

Looking up to Drinkwaters ruins

The tree in the distance is the point to turn left up towards the main path

Just after the tree, which is growing in an old fenced off pit, turn left on to the path alongside the trial pits

Looking back down Dean Black Brook. Note the pine tree on the left

H stands on one of the pits

The main path to Coppice (and Brinscal if you wish to lengthen the walk)

Turn left here (where H is standing)

The muddy path to Coppice Stile (where the trees are). Some people wont like me saying this, but I think it's time to ban mountain bikes from these moors. I appreciate that more walkers are using the paths but bike wheels churn paths up - especially when brakes are applied. These moors are not the same as the Lakes where many of the mountains are rocky paths. These moors are peat and moss and cannot take the pounding that bikes give.

H stands at Coppy Stile and suveys the wonderful view down to Healey Nab and the Lancashire plain beyond

Looking back to Drinkwaters and Great Hill from Coppice Stile

Looking across (south) to Grain Pole Hill

Looking down the path towards Healey Nab and the coast

Zooming in on the old Witters No 1 and 2 lodges. The mormon church at Chorley is beyond.

Looking down on White Coppice. No 6 Lodge is behind the far houses

Here is the alternative route to avoid the blocked path. The boulder causing the obstruction can be seen far right

As we finished our walk the sun made a brief appearance through the mist

This is the breach in what I take to be No 7 Lodge. It gave way many years ago (probably 19th century) causing flooding in the village. It was never repaired

Drinkwater's Round

Date	27/12/2011
Starting Point	White Coppice (SD614180)
Distance	3 miles


On a really dull day I took one of the dogs on a circular walk starting at White Coppice. There were quite a few people about and so I chose a route I hoped would be quiet - and it was. Passing the cricket pavillion on my right, I crossed the goyt I made my way up Dean Black Brook (or the gorge as we call it) to the quarry. The water was thundering down after all the recent rain and the waterfalls were much more forceful than usual. A rock has partially blocked the path along the gorge but it is quite easy to navigate round (see picture lower down). Comtinue along the path keeping the gorge to your right. At the fork follow the path along the left hand stream. Continue for half a mile and when you reach a pine tree (growing in an old mine pit) turn left and follow the path along the old trial pits (they are safe). This will bring you out on the main Great Hill to Coppice path. I turned left and then when I reached the signpost - took the left path again. It is then a simple matter of following the path all the way back to White Coppice.