Belmont is a linear settlement in moorland in the West Pennine Moors, built along the old Bolton to Preston road, the A675. It lies about 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of Bolton in a valley between Anglezarke Moor and Turton Moor. There is a minor road to Rivington to the west.
The Winter Hill transmitting station stands on Winter Hill about a third of a mile (0.5 km) southwest of the village.
Belmont Reservoir, built by Bolton Waterworks in the 19th century, occupies the valley to the north of the village, and is home to Bolton Sailing Club. The smaller Ward's Reservoir, built in the early 19th century to supply water to the former Rycroft Dye Works and known locally as the Blue Lagoon, was drained in 2010.
The township contained cotton-mills, a large dye works owned by Thomas Rycroft that had a landmark chimney (which has been demolished), and a printworks; there was a paper works at Spring Side in Folds.
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