Trespass Trail - Community Walk

Join us for a guided walk up the Woodland Trust Trespass Trail up Winter Hill.

This walk will be on the weekend, that 130 years ago that 10,000 people trespassed up the road that the land owner had closed. Starting at Smithills Hall, we will follow the trespassers up Coal Pit Road to the top of the hill, returning via Hole Bottom, Burnt Edge, Walker Fold and Barrow Bridge.

Your guide is Tony Greenwood, Woodland Trust Volunteer walk leader, who has written about the history of the Smithills Estate and the people involved in the Trespass.

The walk will be at a slower pace than the trespassers as you will stop to talk about the mass Trespass in 1896 and some of the stories of the people who lived there 130 years ago.

Event information:

Meeting point: Smithills Hall, Smithills Dean Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 7NP

Duration: Approx 6 hours

Distance ~7 1/2 miles / ~12 km

Ascent: 315 meteres / 1000 feet

To ensure group safety and conservation of the area, numbers are limited.

Further information:

• This walk is approx. 6 hours, ~5km and is partly on footpaths, roads and partly on uneven muddy ground. It’s moderate with some slightly challenging parts. This walk is not suitable for anyone with mobility issues.
• Bring lunch, plenty of water, and any other refreshments you may need.
• Come prepared for cold and potentially wet weather. This walk will be cancelled if there is severe weather, please check your emails on the day before the walk.
• Participants must be aged 16+. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Please wear appropriate footwear, such as sturdy walking or hiking shoes or boots.
• Dogs on leads are welcome.
• Please make the Woodland Trust team aware of any medical issues before the start of the walk, e.g. asthma, diabetes, etc
• Spaces on two car parks in the Hall grounds close to the Hall. On entering the drive keep left at the drive fork.
• There are toilets at Smithillls Hall.
• Limited spaces are available for our events, if you can no longer make it, we appreciate you letting us know.
• You will be walking near long grass. Wear long trousers to reduce the risk of ticks and lymes diesease.

If you have any questions, access requirements, or would like to join us for the walk but have any hesitations which we may be able to support you with, please get in touch: [email protected]

How to get to the Event:

Bus - Catch the 526 or 525 from Bolton and get off at the Smithills Hall.

Car - Follow the Brown Signage 'Smithills Hall & Country Park’.

How to cancel your ticket?

1. Log in to your Eventbrite account
2. Go to the top right corner and select 'Tickets'
3. Click on the event you wish to cancel
4. Click 'Cancel Order'
5. Then 'Yes, cancel this order'

You should then receive a cancellation confirmation to your email.

Alternatively, email: [email protected] to cancel.