Rivington Pike. 



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changed by the wand of that greatest of magicians, 

 Commerce ! Though there is still abundant need of 

 polish, Camden himself, could he come back, would 

 surrender his fears, let him only be one of a party up 

 to the Pike. Conspicuous from a hundred spots on 

 the western margin of our city, Rivington Pike is little 

 less worthy of a visit than Pendle, and has the advantage 

 over the latter in being comparatively near. Proceeding 

 first to Horwich, six miles beyond Bolton, on the main 

 northern line, the ascent is quite easy, and may be under- 

 taken by two or three different routes one by the side 

 of the little river Douglas; another by the quarry and 

 Tiger Wood, a deep ravine containing all the accustomed 

 pretty features of Lancashire mountain defiles, rushing 

 water, many cascades, and abundance of trees. Ferns, 

 mosses, and sylvan wild-flowers grow in plenty, and in one 

 part, where the water collects in a large natural pool, there 

 is quite a remarkable display of aquatic plants. The 

 summit gained, over fifteen hundred feet above the sea, 

 the prospect is magnificent, especially if we delay till the 

 green country glows with a summer evening's sunset. 

 The great plain that stretches to the Ribble, and renews 

 itself as the "Fylde," lies at our feet. Chorley and 

 Preston seem quite close; in the distance the church- 

 towers and other aspiring portions of Southport are 

 plainly visible, and beyond all there is a shining streak 

 that is unmistakably the play-ground of the sea-gulls. 

 North Cheshire, North Wales, and the nearer Derbyshire 

 hills, are also seen. A very particularly fine view is 



