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Home , Darwen, Great Hill, West Pennine Moors

Darwen Tower Walk 2 A Trail

A walk of 2 miles, 1.5 hours – one short steep ascent Tower Walk No. 2 A walk of

This circular walk takes in some fantastic views of the surrounding countryside from Darwen Moors.

You are strongly advised to use these walk details in conjunction with OS Explorer map No. 287, West Pennine Moors.

1 Start from Sunnyhurst Wood Lychgate car park. Brown tourist signs off the A666 direct you up Earnsdale Road to this car park. 2 Turn right out of the car park up the lane leading past Waterman’s Cottage. At the fork keep left, climbing up the The Lychgate at Sunnyhurst Woods hill. Below to the right is Earnsdale Reservoir constructed in 1854 to supply 3 Darwen water. Now sheltered Continue along the farm track who burgled the cottage and by trees it provides a haven for passing Higher Wenshead Farm stole £5. It later became a waterfowl in the winter. Note on your left going through a refreshment house serving teas also Sunnyhurst Wood nestling farm gate. Keep ahead and go of oatcakes and buttermilk in the valley bottom and through a second farm gate. which became a favourite Darwen Golf Course on the Carry on along the track until it rendezvous for local picnickers. hillside beyond. bears to the right. Here climb It fell into disrepair earlier last the stile on the left by the farm century. gate. Bear immediately left and climb the steps up the 5 hillside. Note the stone waymarker with the carving of Carry on up the path to the top Darwen Tower and direction of the hill. Turn left at the arrow as you pass over the wooden bench which overlooks stile. This is the first of several Stepback Clough. This is typical markers you follow on your of the small wooded valleys to route to Darwen Tower. be found on the fringes of the high in this area. 4 Stepback is also steeped in local history. It is believed to have got Turn right at the top of the its name when Oliver Cromwell, steps following the path in front on the moor with his troops in the remains of Stepback bad weather said, ‘step back, go Cottage better know as ‘Owd no further’. How true this is, no Aggies’. The name derives one can really be sure! There is Sunnyhurst Visitor Centre from the owner who was however some evidence to murdered in 1860 by thieves suggest that opposing forces 2 miles, 1.5 hours – one short steep ascent

Sunnyhurst Wood SUNNYHURST To PUBLIC HOUSE A666 / 10 Darwen Town Centre Sunnyhurst Wood P Earnsdale Car Park START LYCHGATE HOTEL Reservoir WATERMAN’S 1 COTTAGE 2 KISSING GATE

HILL LANE 9 SNIDDLE Sunnyhurst Hey STONE KISSING Reservoir MARKER GATE

8 O.S. MARKER DARWEN TOWER 7 HIGHER WENSHEAD FARM 6 3 KISSING GATE STONE MARKER STILE STONE STEPBACK BROOK MARKER 4 ‘OWD AGGIES STILE STILE STONE STONE MARKER MARKER 5 Stepback To Clough Ryal Fold At the foot of Darwen Tower. An ideal spot for a picnic stop. A WEST PENNINE MOORS TRAIL

skirmished not far away in 9 . As you turn left at the bench note the stone With the kissing gate on your waymarker again as you right continue down the track. continue along the path. To the left you can see the Water Treatment Plant adjacent Along this path your can enjoy to Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir. fine views to your left. Note Ryal Fold, a small group of farmhouse and whitewashed 10 cottages. Amongst the trees is Continue on passing through a café and farm gate and on down the information centre (Tel: 01254 track. As the path splits into 704502) two, take the fork to the left. At the end of the path turn left 6 (opposite the Sunnyhurst Pub) Family Walking on Darwen Moor along Tockholes Road back to Continue along the path, Sunnyhurst Wood Lychgate car forking right past a stone park. waymarker. To your left is Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir Red Grouse can be seen all completed in 1875. At one year round on the moor, with THE VIEW FROM THE TOWER time, during dry weather when Curlew and Meadow Pipit in levels were low, water was the rough pasture. Peregrine To the south nearby are Winter pumped out of old flooded Falcons can sometimes be Hill (1,498ft) with its TV and mine workings to replenish the spotted circling overhead. radio mast and also reservoir. Alongside the drystone walls in merging with distant the spring look out for Snowdonia and Great Orme’s 7 Wheatear. The walls are also Head, with the Irish Sea home to mice, weasels and the beyond. On a clear day the Ahead a short path on the right Common lizard. can be seen. leads up to Darwen Tower. Further along the coast, Southport, Preston and the Ribble Estuary, and DARWEN TOWER 8 its tower lead to the Tower stands After visiting the Tower, retrace Lune and Black Combe in overlooking the town at a your steps down the hill to the . height of 1225feet and is 86 Ordnance Survey triangulation feet tall. It is the most point. Take the path on the prominent landmark in the right and at the next junction area. It has a circular viewing carry on straight ahead down platform on the way up as well the broad path. As you follow as the parapet walk at the top. the path down note the kissing Its history is written on the gate on your right. This is shield on the front of the NOT the route back but is the tower. top of Sniddle Hill Lane as it winds downhill to Darwen town centre. A separate leaflet WILDLIFE ON THE MOOR ‘Darwen Tower Walk No 1’ If walking early in the covering this route was devised morning, look out for the in 1996 to commemorate the Abundant Wildlife. occasional fox out hunting. granting of public access to the moors a hundred years earlier. The hills of the Lake District Information on walks, wildlife beyond grace the northern and local history can be skyline and join the Forest of obtained free from the Visitor Bowland and the Centre. The centre houses an Dales, where the three exhibition gallery for local statuesque giants, Whernside, artists and also childrens’ Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent environmental activities. towering beyond Pendle and the The centre is open Tuesday, in the foreground. Thursday, Saturday, Sunday A splendid view of Darwen can and Bank Holidays 1pm – also be obtained. Note the 300- 4.30pm. For more foot India Mill chimney, which information (01254) 701545 Red Grouse was modelled on the style of a during opening times. Venetian campanile. Along the banks of Sunnyhurst The Kiosk serves drinks and SUNNYHURST WOOD Brook in Sunnyhurst Woods is snacks, is fully licensed and is the picturesque Olde also registered for marriage Adjacent to the car park is a Kiosk, erected in 1911 –12 by ceremonies. For opening times Lychgate giving access to the public subscription to contact (01254) 701530. woods. commemorate the Coronation Sunnyhurst Wood was of King George V. originally planted in the early 1800’s to provide cover for game birds, but was purchased by public subscription in 1902 and developed as a woodland park. Covering some 85 acres the wood lies in an attractive valley which is rich in both bird and plant life. Over 280 species of flowering plants can be seen together with a variety of woodland birds including the great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, tree creeper, tawny owl and the very shy jay. Along the stream the grey wagtail, kingfisher and dipper can also Ramblers at the Lychgate Hotel sometimes be glimpsed.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Blackburn Tourist Information Centre (01254) 53277 or www.tourism.blackburnworld.com Travel Centre (01254) 681120 Roddlesworth Café & Information Centre (01254) 704502 Sunnyhurst Woods Visitor Centre (01254) 701545 Lychgate Hotel (01254) 775632 Sunnyhurst Woods Bridge. Photo: Evening Telegraph Sunnyhurst Pub (01254) 873035 THE COUNTRY CODE

• Enjoy the countryside and respect its life and work. • Guard against all risk of fire. • Fasten all gates. • Keep dogs under close control. • Keep to paths across farmland. • Avoid damage to fences, hedges and walls. • Leave livestock, crops and machinery alone. • Protect wildlife, plants and trees. • Leave no litter. • Go carefully on country roads. • Help to keep all water clean. • Make no unnecessary noise.

NOTES FOR WALKERS ESSENTIAL KIT Central Railway Station The OS Explorer Map No. 287 (Enquiries). Tel: 08457 484950. (West Pennine Moors) provides excellent aid and information on For information on local attractions, events, all areas covered in this guide. places of interest and accommodation, (Ordnance Survey tel: 08456 please contact Blackburn Tourist 050505 / www.ordsvy.gov.uk) Information Centre. Tel: 01254 53277. Email: [email protected] FURTHER INFORMATION If you are travelling to the start of the walk Alternatively visit the Blackburn with using public transport, please contact Darwen website at: Blackburn Travel and Local Information www.tourism.blackburnworld.com Centre. Tel: 01254 681120. Countryside Services Office. Tel: 01254 691239 for countryside information and events.

Please note that every effort has been taken to ensure details are correct at the time of printing. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor any consequence arising from use of the information.

Reprinted March 2004 by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Marketing & Tourism Development and Countryside Services. Photos: Mike Tattersall, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council