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Wigan, St Helens, & Mersyside (former).Walk Details: Top details: The Walk: |
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A few dozen metres from our parking spot, on the outskirts of Brownlow village, was the boundary between the unitary authorities of Wigan and St Helens. Here, right on the boundary, was the highest point in Wigan, which really demonstrated one of the worst aspects of county top bagging. Being just an unmarked point part way up Billinge Hill meant that you weren’t even sure when you’d reached it. Given that it was not actually on a hilltop, it didn’t feel remotely special even when you were there We hurried on up the hill. There wasn’t much of a hill left to go up though – we’d done most of the climbing in the car. Turning off the road we followed a track that wove its way between a few houses and then several radio masts (those houses must have great reception!) and emerged into a field. On the far side of the field a miniature hill (known locally as “The Lump”) was the summit of Billinge Hill. Although not an official public right of way, there’s a well worn track across to the hill – no doubt worn by the dozens of marilyn, trig and county top-baggers who target this hill. As we approached it, we saw another couple of walkers reach the summit and pause briefly before heading back the way they came – it was the unmistakeable action of a bagger, and we idly wondered which list they were doing!
This carbuncle was at the highest point of the hill, but fortunately there was a trig point just a few metres away to bring up the tone. The most memorable feature of Billinge Hill though was the view. To the west was an outstanding vista stretching across the whole of Merseyside, to the Welsh hills on the distant horizon. To the east your eyes were immediately drawn to the looming bulk of Winter Hill and its crown of eight radio masts, which we were due to climb later that day. Only to the south were things spoiled by the brown scars of a landfill sight. Despite the reports of other baggers, the landfill didn’t smell at all; in fact, according to web rumour, landfilling is almost complete and the hill is soon to be returned to its “natural” state. Despite being a very small hill, the views made this a worthy marilyn.
Nevertheless, we were glad to get back to the car to warm up.
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From our parking spot at the roadside on the
western approach to the village there was an impressive view back towards
Liverpool and the Mersey estuary. We didn’t linger over it though,
reckoning that the view would be better from the top of Billinge Hill.
The icy wind blowing was even more of an incentive to get a move on!
On
top of The Lump is a squat, square, graffiti’d and particularly
ugly flat-roofed brick building. Other websites inform me that this used
to have a peaked roof and masquerade as a summerhouse. I couldn’t
see it myself!