Bus service will operate to Rivington for the first time in 40 years

The new service was announced at the launch event to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Winter Hill Trespass ­— where Boltonians took part in the Britain's biggest rights of way dispute, so they had the right to walk across the moors.

Paul Salveson, who is the chairman of the Bolton Station Community Development Partnership, said cuts to public transport leading to withdrawal of bus services in rural areas meant that the countryside was not accessible to large part of the community.

He said: "Even if we had complete open access, large parts of the the community are not able to access it, because they do not have access to a car."

Paul said: "One of things we are doing in the Bolton area through the community rail partnership, for the first time in over 40 years, there is going to be a bus service to Rivington ­— one of the most popular local tourist hotspots in the North West.

"There will be an half-hourly bus service starting 11 April on Sundays initially but we are hoping it will become daily.

"That is only a very small start but there is scope for doing so much more.

"It is fine talking about open access but if the only way of getting there is in your car, I think that is excluding huge numbers of people."

A spokesman for Diamond Bus North West said: "Diamond Bus North West would like to add that we are delighted to be working in partnership with South East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership to bring a service to Rivington, we are extending our 575 service to run from Old Lord's Estate to Rivington and back again then back into Bolton. 

"This is an opportunity that we could not turn down this allows us to continue striving to give something to the community and allow everybody the chance to visit one of the most popular local tourist hotspots in the North West."

On the commemorate walk on September 5 following in the footsteps of the Winter Hill 'trespassers', a free bus service will be put on to get people back form Belmont.