Key Points
- The Woodland Trust organised an inclusive accessibility event to see an active archaeological excavation at the historic Two Lads Cairns, on Bolton's Smithills Estate.
- Archaeological Dig and Restoration: The excavation is part of the Two Lads restoration project, which began on 3 August after a public consultation. The scheme is not a restoration scheme but one that will aim to preserve features from different historical periods.
- Organisational Collaboration: Eddee Endley, events and communications officer at Smithills Estate, worked with Experience Community CIC, a social enterprise committed to getting disabled people outdoors.
- Prior to embarking from the Walker Fold car park, visitors attended a lecture about the estate's history for 3,000 years at the Woodland Trust's Smithills Hall from volunteer Tony Greenwood.
- Participants – including wheelchair users on specially adapted electric assist mountain triks – walked 2.2 to 2.5 miles over different moorland terrain through Burnt Edge, The Tramway or Holdens.
- Participant Highlights: Some of the attendees were Jamie Murrant, a community engagement officer who walked following a severe road accident in 2015 but did not drive to the event, and Sue Yates, who drove over 100 miles from North West Leicestershire to attend.
- Presently, on-site excavation has been carried out to the extent of fresh soil and stones have been excavated, but so far, no significant artefacts have been found. Physical restoration is to start after the excavation is completed in about a week.
Bolton (Bolton Today) August 10, 2026 — Members of the public, conservationists, and accessibility advocates gathered on Bolton's historic Smithills Estate on Friday, 7 August, for an inclusive outdoor ramble to observe an active archaeological excavation at the iconic Two Lads Cairns. The initiative was held as a joint venture between the Woodland Trust, which manages the estate, and Experience Community CIC, a non-profit organisation that provides outdoor access for disabled individuals. The site visit forms an integral part of the broader Two Lads restoration project, a multi-phase conservation effort that commenced on 3 August following extensive public consultations regarding how best to preserve the ancient landmark.
The event commenced at Smithills Hall with an educational presentation tracing the heritage of the site from 1100 BC to modern times, before participants embarked on a 2.2-to-2.5-mile trek starting from the Walker Fold car park. Traversing routes along Burnt Edge, the Tramway, and Holdens, attendees using specialized all-terrain equipment were able to reach the elevated dig site near the summit of the estate. The excursion highlighted both the historical significance of the cairns—whose exact origins remain shrouded in local folklore—and ongoing efforts to broaden diversity and physical access across the largest property acquired by the Woodland Trust in England.
What Is the Significance of the Two Lads Cairns Restoration Project?
The current work at Two Lads Cairns represents a pivotal moment in the conservation history of the Smithills Estate. As reported by reporter Grace Williams of The Bolton News, the restoration effort officially began on 3 August after the Woodland Trust adjusted its initial development plans to reflect feedback gathered during a comprehensive public consultation process.
Rather than attempting to rebuild or revert the cairns to a single speculative moment in history, project leaders opted for a multi-layered preservation strategy. According to reporting by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, the revised design will retain structural elements and physical features from several distinct stages of the cairns' long evolution, ensuring that the final structure accurately reflects the site's complex, multi-century history.
The physical dig site itself currently displays freshly overturned earth and systematically placed stones as archaeologists work to uncover potential subterranean features. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Eddee Endley, events and communications officer for the Smithills Estate, stated that
“we've got a variety of events on surrounding Two Lads, and we're working with various different groups.”
Addressing the timeline and status of the physical archaeological work, Eddee Endley informed The Bolton News through reporter Grace Williams that the excavation phase is scheduled to conclude within a week, after which contractors and heritage teams will transition directly into structural stabilization and restoration work. While field workers have not uncovered major historical artefacts during the initial weeks of digging, the structural documentation gathered during the project will inform future educational displays and management plans across the estate.
How Did the Woodland Trust and Experience Community Collaborate?
Making high-altitude, rugged moorland accessible to individuals with mobility challenges required meticulous planning and specialized expertise. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Eddee Endley proactively reached out to Experience Community CIC ahead of the excavation because she was determined to offer an inclusive viewing opportunity for wheelchair users and individuals with limited mobility.
Speaking to reporter Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Eddee Endley stated that
“as part of our event programme, we wanted to have something that was inclusive for wheelchair users.”
She further noted that
“Experience Community have provided the equipment and brought along some of their local ramblers. It's a wonderful organisation and a great opportunity for us to increase the diversity of users on the site.”
Experience Community CIC operates as a community interest company dedicated to breaking down barriers that prevent disabled individuals from enjoying natural spaces. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Rik Legge, general manager of Experience Community, explained the core composition of the organisation, stating:
“The managing director of Experience Community is Craig Grimes. Craig is a wheelchair user, and approximately half of our members of staff are disabled. They are supported by our non-disabled colleagues.”
Logistical challenges inherent to archaeological dig sites required creative route planning. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Rik Legge acknowledged these initial obstacles, stating that
“there are some challenges with the access on the dig site. But we realised we could still have a great day with a talk about the context first and then head up to view the site itself.”
In addition to leading outdoor group rambles, Experience Community provides structured wheelchair skills courses that equip participants with the techniques and confidence required to navigate uneven rural paths, cattle grids, and urban obstacles.
What Historical Context Was Shared at Smithills Hall?
The day's itinerary began in the historic surroundings of Smithills Hall, where attendees received a comprehensive historical briefing prior to setting out onto the trails. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Woodland Trust volunteer Tony Greenwood delivered an engaging lecture detailing the history of the Smithills Estate spanning more than three millennia, from 1100 BC through to the present day.
During the session, Tony Greenwood highlighted little-known facts about the estate's heritage, including the various legends surrounding the Two Lads Cairns. While local folklore offers numerous theories regarding the origin of the twin stone structures—ranging from ancient burial mounds to memorials for lost children—the true archaeological origins of the cairns remain a mystery that the current dig hopes to clarify.
To assist participants interested in further research, Tony Greenwood directed attendees to The Lives and Times of the Smithills Estate, an authoritative local history book authored by resident historians and community members. Following the indoor briefing, the group relocated to the Walker Fold car park, where two temporary refreshment stalls provided provisions for the ramblers before they set off toward the upper moorlands.
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What Challenges and Terrain Did the Ramblers Encounter?
The hike from Walker Fold to the Two Lads excavation site presented a realistic test of all-terrain accessibility equipment. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, the total route covered approximately 2.2 to 2.5 miles, taking participants along established pathways including Burnt Edge, the Tramway, and Holdens.
While the gradient was not exceptionally steep overall, the terrain presented intermittent sections of exposed rock, loose shale, and uneven ground, introducing a challenging physical element to the outing. Group members also had to navigate carefully around free-roaming livestock grazing across the open pastures.
Weather conditions on the day remained highly favourable for outdoor activity. According to coverage by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, a overcast morning gave way to clear, bright sunshine by the afternoon, allowing participants clear visibility as they ascended the hill.
To tackle the rugged landscape, several participants utilized specialised mountain trikes. These hybrid, electric-assist tricycles are engineered specifically to enable wheelchair users to cross lumpy ground, mud, and steep gradients that standard manual or powered wheelchairs cannot navigate.
Who Were the Key Participants on the Inclusive Ramble?
The event brought together a diverse group of staff, volunteers, and public participants, each bringing personal experiences to the walk. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, attendees included Experience Community staff members Rik Legge and Jamie Murrant, alongside local outdoor enthusiasts Sue Yates and Jim Wedge.
Jamie Murrant, who serves as a community engagement officer for Experience Community, shared a remarkable personal journey during the event. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Jamie Murrant suffered catastrophic injuries in a severe road traffic accident in 2015. At the time, medical professionals warned his family that the trauma was life-altering and that he might never walk or speak again.
Through years of intensive physical rehabilitation and personal resolve, Jamie Murrant achieved an extraordinary recovery. As noted by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, he completed the entire 2.5-mile moorland walk on foot without requiring hiking poles or supportive mobility apparatus.
Another notable participant was Sue Yates, who undertook a long journey to attend the Smithills event. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, Sue Yates travelled over 100 miles from her home in North West Leicestershire specifically to take part in the accessible ramble using her electric-assist mountain trike.
Reflecting on her experience during the event, Sue Yates told Grace Williams of The Bolton News:
“I'm really enjoying the ramble, and it's a little bit different to the other ones I've done. We had all of the information at the beginning about the interesting site and being able to come up here to see the amazing scenery. Experience Community have helped me over the lumpy ground on my mountain trike.”
Sue Yates further emphasized the practical value of participating in organized group walks, telling The Bolton News through reporter Grace Williams:
“I've learnt a lot about using my mountain trike because experienced people offer tips on how to navigate difficult bits.” Commenting on the long journey from Leicestershire, Sue Yates added that “it looked worth coming on, and it was definitely worth the drive.”
What Can Visitors See and Experience at the Smithills Estate?
Upon reaching the summit near the Two Lads Cairns, the group paused for a packed lunch while taking advantage of the expansive geographical views offered by the elevated vantage point. As reported by Grace Williams of The Bolton News, clear weather conditions provided panoramic vistas stretching across local moorlands, the Manchester city skyline, Rivington Pike, and the landmark Winter Hill TV transmitting station. On exceptionally clear days, visibility extends as far as the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales.
The Smithills Estate holds a prestigious status within the UK conservation sector as the single largest land acquisition ever undertaken by the Woodland Trust in England. Encompassed within its vast boundaries is a rich landscape mosaic consisting of upland grassland, working farmland, heather moorland, ancient woodland, steep-sided wooded cloughs, and ecologically sensitive blanket bog habitats.
In addition to housing multiple working tenant farms, the estate features an extensive network of public footpaths, bridleways, and educational trails designed to connect local communities with the natural environment. Both the Woodland Trust and Experience Community CIC maintain online resources detailing upcoming inclusive events, site developments, and volunteer opportunities for those seeking to explore the historic Bolton landmark.