Smithills Country Park

A huge country park with stretches of open moorland dotted with historic buildings and archeological remains.

Formerly The Smithills Estate, the ancient parkland belonging to Smithills Hall – or earlier residence – this area was made a country park which was operated for many years by Bolton Council. Now mostly occupied by the Smithills Estate – a venture by The Woodland Trust to protect the land from development and create a space for recreation when the local council wanted to sell it.

‘Smithills Estate is the largest site the Woodland Trust has ever acquired in England, steeped in history and shadowed by the famous Winter Hill TV mast. The site is a mix of grassland, farmland, moorland, wooded cloughs (ravines) and bog habitats, crisscrossed by dry stone walls, with panoramic views over Bolton to Manchester.

Many aspects of Smithills Estate are being restored and revitalised, making this a wonderful place to visit as its transformation comes underway.’ – The Smithills Estate

Much of the area is also under the protection of S.S.S.I status as part of the West Pennine Moors S.S.S.I and also as a site of biodiversity. Much of the moorland higher up is part of the open-access area.