Rivington Terraced Gardens: Liverpool Castle to Pigeon Tower Walk

Rivington Terraced Gardens have been labelled one of UK’s lost gardens, situated near Bolton, Lancashire.

Read this guide on how you can take a walk from Liverpool Castle, to the Pigeon Tower into Rivington Terraced Gardens near Rivington Pike for a beautiful Lancashire walk.

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A Lancashire Walk Near Bolton

If you are looking to take a Lancashire walk, there is a beautiful spot near Bolton that is great for families and casual walkers.

It is also filled with history which a strong connection to Lord Leverhulme, William Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme who was the founder of Lever Brothers and Sunlight Soap which you will know today as Unilever business empire.

We took our first family walk with our Baby Girl from Liverpool Castle, to the Pigeon Tower and then through the Rivington Terraced Gardens.

It is the perfect mixture of history, woodland walks, bluebells and fantastic viewpoints of the Lancashire plains.

Tracking your Rivington Gardens Walk using Hiiker

Before heading out on this walk, I mapped the full route using Hiiker (discount code below) which is the app I use to plan and navigate all of my walking routes across the UK.

I find it especially useful because you can map out your route before setting off, then follow it live during the walk without worrying about constantly checking where you are going.

It also records your walk statistics afterwards, including distance, duration, and elevation gain.

If you would like to try Hiiker for yourself, you can use my code LEAH50 for a discount when signing up.

I use Hiiker to navigate all my walking routes, making it easy to track my path and stay on course. If you want to try it, you can get 50% off with my code LEAH50!

Walk Statistics

• Distance: 6.05km (3.76 miles)
• Duration: 5 hours 23 minutes
• Elevation Gain: 192m

This route included stopping for lunch, taking plenty of photos and videos, and repeatedly taking a break as I got used to carrying weight again, by weight I mean the baby.

Starting the Walk at Knowle House Car Park

We parked at Knowle House Car Park for easy access to Liverpool Castle in Lever Park, near Bolton.

It is a 0.5 mile (0.8km) walk to Liverpool Castle from the car park.

The car park is free and we were able to get a spot despite the car park being very busy on a bank holiday Monday, however, we do believe the car park was being used for an event that had just finished at a local school.

The walk from the car park should take you ten minutes at a nice relaxed pace however we took longer getting used to carrying the baby in the carrier and before we took ten paces she was already demanding for milkies and snacks, certainly gained both our personalities!

Visiting Liverpool Castle in Rivington

What is Liverpool Castle?

Liverpool Castle in Rivington is a replica of the original Liverpool Castle which once stood in the centre of Liverpool, where Derby Square is today.

The original castle was demolished long ago, with much of its stone later being used to help build Liverpool’s first docks. Because of this, the replica in Rivington is now one of the only ways to visualise what the original Liverpool Castle may once have looked like.

The castle was built as part of Lord Leverhulme’s wider vision for Rivington Terraced Gardens and overlooks the Lower Rivington Reservoir.

Why Does Liverpool Castle Look Like a Ruin?

Liverpool Castle Rivington was never intended to look pristine or newly built.

Lord Leverhulme deliberately designed the structure to resemble the original Liverpool Castle after it had been damaged during the English Civil War.

The Decline of Liverpool Castle

Following Lord Leverhulme’s death, Liverpool Castle in Lever Park gradually fell into decline.

The surrounding area became overgrown, weeds grew on the masonry, and people started to graffiti the walls.

In the 1980s, one of the spiral staircases collapsed due to deterioration.

Ironically, what started as an artificial ruin is slowly becoming a genuine ruin in its own right due to time and neglect.

Is Liverpool Castle Free?

Yes, Liverpool Castle in Rivington, near Bolton is completely free to visit.

The castle sits within Lever Park and can easily be reached on foot from Knowle House Car Park as part of a wider walk through Rivington Terraced Gardens and towards Rivington Pike.

Where to Stay Near Rivington Terraced Gardens

If you are planning a visit to Rivington Terraced Gardens or a walk up towards Rivington Pike, there are a range of places to stay nearby depending on the type of trip you are looking for.

From cosy Lancashire countryside stays to hotels closer to Bolton, this area works well for both a short walking break and a longer weekend exploring the surrounding trails, reservoirs, and viewpoints.

This makes it a great base if you are looking for:

• accommodation near Rivington Pike
• places to stay near Rivington
• Lancashire countryside stays

Find Your Stay near Rivington Terraced Gardens

To make planning easier, you can use the interactive map below to explore accommodation options near Rivington and compare availability for your travel dates.

Walking Through Rivington Terraced Gardens

After visiting Liverpool Castle in Rivington, you can continue your walk into Rivington Terraced Gardens by following the main path. However, it is easy to let yourself get lost within the side trails as you chase bluebells through the woodland.

It is a beautiful, serene woodland area, so we decided to take a picnic stop amongst the trees, where we ended up having a caterpillar invasion.

Eventually, the trail crosses the road and brings you out into open fields, where you get your first glimpse of Rivington Pike in the distance.

Pigeon Tower in Rivington Terraced Gardens

Walking up to the Pigeon Tower

The incline begins here, taking you onto the main pathway through Rivington Terraced Gardens, or you can take the steep shortcut.

We took the steep shortcut, forgetting that our fitness levels were at an all-time low, especially as I was six and a half months postnatal and carrying the baby.

But this route is worth it for the different perspective you get as you approach Pigeon Tower, with views opening up across the landscape as you get to the top.

The History of The Pigeon Tower

The Pigeon Tower was built between 1905 and 1909 by Lord Leverhulme as a birthday present for his wife, Lady Lever.

It was designed as a private retreat within the wider landscape of Rivington Terraced Gardens, forming part of his grand vision for the hillside gardens and estate.

Inside The Pigeon Tower

The tower is four stories high and the top floor was a sitting room for Lady Lever which also acted as a sewing and music room.

One of the most distinctive features is the fireplace, which carries an inscription featuring the initials of William Hesketh Lever and his wife, Elizabeth Ellen spelling out WHEEL.

It also has Lord Leverhulme’s motto underneath:

“I spurn the fear to change”

Views from The Pigeon Tower

Although often described as a structure built to be looked at rather than looked out from, the views from Pigeon Tower are still incredible.

On a clear day, you can see across the Lancashire plains, stretching out towards the Lake District and even as far as Snowdonia.

During our visit, we were also able to catch a faint silhouette of Blackpool Tower in the distance which was completely unexpected.

Watch the Rivington Terraced Gardens walk on Youtube

The Story Behind Rivington Terraced Gardens

Rivington Terraced Gardens is one of the most fascinating landscape gardens in Lancashire and is often referred to as one of the UK’s lost gardens.

Covering around 45 acres, the site is a mix of woodland, terraced gardens, lakes, bridges, and winding pathways hidden throughout the hillside.

The design brings together both Italian and Japanese inspiration, carefully blended into the natural landscape.

The gardens were created through a collaboration with landscape architect Thomas Mawson, who helped bring Lord Leverhulme’s vision to life. One of the most notable features is the Italian Lake, inspired by classical Renaissance-style gardens such as Villa d’Este, near Rome in Italy.

Lord Leverhulme’s Vision for the Gardens

The gardens were the creation of Lord Leverhulme, a true fitness fanatic who believed that walking in fresh air stimulated clear thinking and creativity.

He would often use the lake for boating and entertaining guests, while also spending time walking the grounds himself.

The Lost Gardens of Rivington

After Lord Leverhulme’s death in 1925, the gardens began to slowly decline. Ownership changed over time, and parts of the estate were later used by the military during the Second World War.

Over the years, nature began reclaiming the landscape. Paths disappeared, structures became overgrown, and the gardens gradually slipped into a forgotten state, hence being labelled one of the UK’s lost gardens.

Today, restoration efforts have brought parts of the gardens back to life.

Is there an entrance free for Rivington Terraced Gardens?

No, it is free to enter and is open all year round.

Lever’s Bridge

Lever’s Bridge is one of the most distinctive structures within the gardens, also known as the Seven Arches Bridge.

It is believed to have been inspired by a bridge Lord Leverhulme saw during his travels in Nigeria.

There is plenty to explore at Rivington Terraced Gardens and unfortunately we were unable to see everything due to time getting away from us.

So, we plan on making another trip to walk around the gardens and hike up to Rivington Pike.

Support the Journey

If you’ve enjoyed following this walk through Rivington Terraced Gardens, you can support the journey by buying me the equivalent of a pack of Curly Wurlys over on Buy Me a Coffee.

It genuinely helps keep Leah In Wanderlust going while I continue creating UK walking guides and travel content.