Up Winter Hill (Near Belmont, Lancashire)

While waiting at a bus stop just outside Belmont, I saw a public sign pointing up towards Winter Hill.

And of course, I had to walk up:

 This climb wasn't entirely easy, but the views were great:

About 45 minutes after starting, I found myself at the top of Winter Hill.

Soon learning about the murder of a Scotsman in the 19th century, and a few plane crashes that have happened up there:

And of course, the place was full of telecommunication pylons:

 

Had to take a few shots of this structure, which veered almost endlessly into the sky:

 

Kind of beautiful in its own way. 

Have just read that it is the Winter Hill TV mast, providing television transmission for many people in north-west England.

While up Winter Hill, I was tempted to walk down the opposite end towards Horwich.

But needing to get back to Bury quite fast, I decided to climb back down near Belmont.

It was a strange old feeling being up Winter Hill, I'm not surprised there are claims of UFO sightings up there, it just seems that kind of place.

Have just read that the three boroughs of Chorley, Blackburn and Darwen, and Bolton all meet up on Winter Hill, the highest point in the West Pennine area.