Winter Hill

Cairn(s)
SD656149

Also known as:

Giant's Stone

Nearest town:

Horwich (4km SW)

OS reference:

SD656149

OS sheet:

109

Latitude:

53° 37' 45.02 N

Longitude:

2° 31' 12.84 W

Added to TMA by

IronMan

Sites (1)
Images (10)
Fieldnotes (2)
Links (2)
Topics (1)

Sites within Winter Hill

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description link

Images

Image of Winter Hill (Cairn(s)) by Stoneshifter

This low cairn is in the middle of the Burnt Edge stone row, where it changes orientation. Some of the kerbstones may be identified – so it’s probably a ring cairn – and Winter Hill is in the background.

Image credit: www.davidaspinall.co.uk

Stoneshifter Nov 18, 2008

Horrocks Moor barrow – perhaps it’s half of a pair – can easily be found by looking for these long-horned cattle (they’re quite tame!).

Image credit: www.davidaspinall.co.uk

Stoneshifter Oct 1, 2008

Image of Winter Hill (Cairn(s)) by juamei

Stone tool I found on Winter Hill in a dry stream bed somewhere about SD650135 (give or take 1/2 a mile) – This is the most comfotable way of holding it. Some kind of scraper or hide cutter perhaps?

juamei Jun 5, 2004

Stone tool I found on Winter Hill in a dry stream bed somewhere about SD650135 (give or take 1/2 a mile)

juamei Jun 5, 2004

Image of Winter Hill (Cairn(s)) by IronMan

My own interpretive map showing Winter Hill and Rivington Pike as a focal point for this sacred landscape. Each site has a clear view of Winter Hill which dominates the landscape for miles around.

Monuments with a focus on this great hill include Cheetham Close, Round Loaf, Pikestones, White Brow, Sugarloaf Hill, Barrow Bridge and Standing Stones Hill.

IronMan Jan 9, 2003

The ruined cairn near the summit of Winter Hill looking over to Round Loaf (roughly in the center of the shot) and Pikestones (left of shot).

IronMan Jan 9, 2003

Winter Hill – entertaining the masses for over 5000 years!

IronMan Jan 9, 2003

Cheetham Close seen from the summit of Winter Hill.

IronMan Jan 9, 2003

From Winter Hill Round Loaf is a clear and prominent landmark.

IronMan Jan 9, 2003

The cairn near the summit of Winter Hill, with the TV masts behind.

IronMan May 25, 2002

Articles

Winter Hill

Cairn(s)

IronMan Jan 9, 2003

The boiler had broken at work and we were sent home, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to satisfy my growing curiosity about this place. Last time I was up here it was raining and the visibility was very poor, so it being a clear and crisp winters day I just had to come. It seems to me that Winter Hill and Rivington Pike are the focal point for most of the monuments in this area. Cheetham Close and Round Loaf have an uninterupted view, as would Pikestones if it wasn’t for the forestry commission trees. Other cairns and stones dotted all around are either in plain site of the hill or actually on it.

This visit was excellent, a friend from work came with me, and we strolled around the top of the hill, looking at all the TV masts. As much as they definitely ruin the hill, a part of me can’t help digging the Star Wars feel they bring to the place, especially in the snow. I even got to thinking about the unbroken lineage of this place – from neolithic sacred hill (if my thoughts are correct) through to beacon hill and on to TV broadcasting... a definite thread there I feel!

While walking around the top we couldn’t help noticing a hang-glider hovering around between the masts. One time as we walked past the guy, we were close enough to see his face, he shouted down to us:

“What time is it?”

“Half past three”, I replied.

“Cheers!“, he responded.

We had a good laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation. Only round Bolton, we concluded.

Winter Hill

Cairn(s)

IronMan May 25, 2002

I had expected more here. The cairn is pretty small, and lies scattered. The eery sci-fi TV station aerials dominate the immediate area. The view from here is quite something though, stretching from the Lancashire coast over to Bury. Local landmarks within view include Darwen Tower on Darwen Hill(itself once a beacon hill), Rivington Pike, Round Loaf and the Anglezark & Belmont reservoirs.