Boyfriend-A and I took a spontaneous outing to Rivington on Friday. It happened to be Litha, which is the longest day of the year. It was bright, warm and the perfect evening to explore Rivington. We spent quality time together and I also took the opportunity to appreciate nature.
I have previously blogged about Rivington and included plenty of photos. But I felt compelled to take some more photos of this beautiful place on Friday. So here are some of those photos (click on any image for full size):
Welcome to my yearly review. 2013 has been a great year; both for me and my creative writing. There’s so much to tell you about my writing that I’ve given My Awesome Year in Words it’s own post on my Writer Website. Here I shall focus on my personal life.
In February I went to a friend’s 50th birthday party and one of my nephew’s 18th birthday party. I undertook my February Photo Challenge.
March came along and I was on TV – Live To The Nation! Although an exciting, uncomfortable and anxiety ridden experience, it was also one of great learning. Educating me in the world of the media. And unbeknown to me at the time, it wasn’t going to be my last excursion into the media world this year. Oh and I got an iPhone 5.
My Birthday Presents – Happy Birthday Cake
I did so much in May. I had a great Bank Holiday Weekend. I celebrated my twenty seventh birthday by seeing friends and family; they got me some fab Birthday Presents. I got an extra special birthday present off the wonderful Writer Mel Bossa. I had a Cumbria Adventure. I enjoyed this Get Lucky Cover, as well as the original song by Daft Punk.
In October Steve and I went watching Wicked at Manchester Palace Theatre. I had a bug, got offered a job which I initially accepted and then later declined. My contract at work got made permanent. I got interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live.
This is the second and final part of my Rivington Adventure (see Rivington Adventure: Lever Castle), which I had while off on annual leave a few weeks ago.
It was another glorious afternoon; Simon & I headed to explore some ruins in a less well-known part of Rivington’s Woodland. We traipsed uphill, the heat from the sun making the journey more difficult.
But when we got there, it was totally worth it. I could understand why Simon had wanted me to see this magical place.
The entrance included an archway, then stairs to a doorway and felt like stepping into another world:
Under the Archway
Rivington – Stone Steps To The Doorway
Rivington – The Doorway to a Magical Place
The ruins were presumably built by the extravagant Lord Leverhulme as a place to entertain. They include an outhouse and what would have been a small cottage. These ruins have been named by some as the Chinese Village or the Hobbit Village. Here are some photos:
The Well Preserved Outhouse
Rivington Ruins – The Small Cottage
Rivington Ruins – The Small Cottage
Rivington Ruins – Nature’s Growing Over The Stairs To The No-Longer Existent 2nd Floor
Rivington – A View of the Man-made Pond
Rivington – Another View of the Man-made Pond
As we explored, we came across this beautiful, large man-made pond. We sat down and ate our picnic admiring nature’s full summer bloom. I didn’t need to open my energy centres to feel the hum of the natural world around me. But when I did I felt bright green natural energy flow through my entire self – body, mind and soul. The energy went were healing was needed and began soothing, reviving and recharging my batteries.
I haven’t felt that blissful and alive in such a long time.
We sat on a bench and ate our picnic. As I did an ash tree seemed to call to me. I lit up a cigarette and sat with my back leant upon the tree. I closed my eyes and was transported back into the past. To a time were the pond and ruins were whole and in their former glory. I pulled myself back to the present aware that I didn’t want to go to deeply into the past with a lit cigarette in my hand. But I have to tell you that the glimpse I caught was breathtakingly beautiful.
Then Simon & I saw some ducklings with their mother duck. They were just going about their business, not bothered by us at all. So I took some photos:
Rivington Pound – DucklingsRivington Pound – The Ducklings Close Up
Rivington Pound – The Ducklings Close Up
Normally doing the amount of walking we I did I would have experienced some back pain afterwards. But surrounded by the elements: the earth beneath my feet, the air that I breathed, the water in the pond and the fire from the sun in the sky that warmed my skin. I left Rivington feeling interconnected with nature, healed, relaxed, rejuvenated and without any pain at all.
A few weeks ago, I had a week’s annual leave from work. I choose the right week to be off – as all week we had glorious sunshine and sizzling temperatures.
Simon & I headed for an adventure in Rivington. Rivington is a massive woodland and village close to Chorley and Bolton, both of which are in Lancashire. It has a long history dating back to the Bronze Age.
Rivington has several sets of old ruins; with the buildings constructed under the instruction of the long deceased wealthy Lord Leverhulme, whom used to own the land.
Lever Castle (known to some as Rivington Castle) was built by Lord Leverhulme on a whim and closely mirrors Liverpool Castle. Here are some photos of our adventure exploring Lever Castle – as always to see the full size photo click on it:
Outside Rivington Castle – Covered In Greenery
The outside of Rivington Castle
Rivington Castle – The Entrance
Rivington Castle Inside – Ruins in a Good State
Rivington Castle Inside – Ruins in a Good State
Rivington Castle Inside – Ruins in a Good State
Rivington Castle – ‘Owe look a window!’ Simon says.
Rivington Castle – ‘Hello!’ Simon says.
Rivington Castle – The Top of One of Four Towers
Rivington Castle – A Stunning Corridor of Arching Doorways
Rivington Castle – The Court Yard, with Winter Hill & a Watchtower in the Background.
Rivington – A Place of Bewitching Beauty
After exploring the castle and stopping to enjoy the serene view of the reservoir below; we decided to go for a walk to appreciate nature. To me just taking the time out of busy life to truly appreciate nature – is a spiritual experience in it’s self.
Although the photos don’t do this wonderful place justice, Left and Below are some photos of Rivington’s natural world.
Rivington is right on my door step, yet I forget it’s there. I should visit more often.
Rivington – A Place of Natural Delightful Beauty
Rivington – There’s Something Magical About Being this Close to Nature.
