Rivington Pike

Rivington Pike is the landmark tower of the West Pennine Moors, standing on the shoulder of Winter Hill above the terraced gardens and reservoirs east of Chorley. It is a well-established local flying spot and the reward is a huge westward panorama over the Lancashire plain to the coast, with the squat 18th-century tower as an unmistakable subject. Helpfully, the tower and Pike are owned by Chorley Council on open access moor, so TOAL from the summit is realistic and legal for a hobbyist. The cautions are real, though. The surrounding Rivington estate — terraced gardens, Lever Park and the reservoir catchment below — is United Utilities land, and UU generally bans take-off and landing on its holdings, so launch up on the council-owned Pike moor, not down among the gardens or by the water. Winter Hill's TV mast complex sits just to the east; keep well clear of the masts and their guy wires. It is a popular, busy hill with runners and walkers constantly, so pick quiet early hours. Airspace is fine — Manchester's zone is ~20km south-east. The exposed top gives honest wind, so plan the downwind return. Best in clear evening light when the plain and coast stretch out gold.