GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Atherton Walks - Hulton Park

2.49 miles (4 km)

The town of Atherton is based in Greater Manchester, near Wigan and Bolton.
This walk takes you around the Hulton Park Estate and New Park wood to the north of the town. Hulton Park is a landscape park dating from the early 19th century, and originally associated with Hulton Hall, which was demolished in 1958. Most of the land is now private property but a small section of New Park Wood is owned by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council. Features in the park include peaceful woodland, lakes, ponds and views of the Mersey valley. You can also look out for wildlife such as woodland birds, deer and herons.
On the walk you will pass the Pretoria pit monument. It marks the site of a mining disaster in the early 20th century. In this area you can look out for evidence of the old mine workings and the colliery railway as well.
Other local walking highlights include the nearby Pennington Flash Country Park and Moses Gate Country Park. Both parks have some fine cycling and walking trails and are within easy reach of the town.

Atherton OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Atherton Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Atherton

Photos

Market Street, Atherton

Market Street, Atherton. The town is the third-largest retail centre in the Borough of Wigan; almost 20% of those employed in the area work in the wholesale and retail trades, although there is still some significant manufacturing industry in the town.

Atherton Cenotaph - geograph.org.uk - 2797511

Atherton Cenotaph

Pretoria pit monument - geograph.org.uk - 91974

Pretoria pit monument. On the borders of Hulton Park, this monument is near the site of the pithead of the Pretoria coalmine. On 21st December 1910 it was the scene of a tragic mining disaster in which 344 men and boys lost their lives.

Pond in New Park Wood - geograph.org.uk - 581595

Pond in New Park Wood. The heron proved there are fish here, catching & eating one as I watched. There are old mine shafts & remnants of a colliery railway in this wood - the Pretoria Pit was here.

Pond near Hulton Park Estate - geograph.org.uk - 1180103

Pond near Hulton Park Estate

Path into Hulton Estate from A6 - geograph.org.uk - 104862

Path into Hulton Estate from A6. This is a private estate with a fence round it. It now contains farms, fields and woods, but once was full of coal mining activity. This path is down by what is known as The Dower House (on the right).

Woodland - Hulton Park Estate - geograph.org.uk - 2724826

Woodland

Hulton Estate cottages - geograph.org.uk - 104863

Hulton Estate cottages. On the A6. This group of former estate workers' cottages has been recently refurbished.

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Atherton.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)