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Photography: G. Britland, M. Sutcliffe, H. Smith and Blackburn and Smith H. Sutcliffe, M. Britland, G. Photography: Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2020; 2020; right database and copyright Crown © data Survey

SUGGESTED START: Sunnyhurst Wood car park (SD 6791 2240) LOOK OUT FOR: Ordnance Contains

developing and trialling the route. route. the trialling and developing

You are here are You

DISTANCE: 9.1 km / 5.7 miles in support for Utilities United and Wood Sunnyhurst of Friends 1. Sunnyhurst Wood - in 1800, the then

TIME: 3 hours (plus sight-seeing and wildlife watching) arable land was planted up by the Rotary, Heys, Harold Jacklin, Judith & John Sutcliffe, To National Lottery Players for funding the project and Mark Mark and project the funding for Players Lottery National To

TERRAIN: Woodland tracks and well used footpaths owner Henry Brock for hunting

purposes. The estate was bought by you! Thank DIFFICULTY: Moderate/Hard

Darwen Corporation in 1902 to

OS MAP REFERENCE: It is advisable to use OS Explorer Map commemorate the coronation of iPhone. and Android on route

app to accompany this this accompany to app Life Ribble

287 with this guide. Sunnyhurst King Edward VII and opened as a the Download

Wood public park the following year. www.ribblelifetogether.org the QR code to find out more or visit visit or more out find to code QR the

2. Earnsdale reservoir - built in 1863 to supply the Scan project. Together Life Ribble the for routes circular of series 1 ( - Blackburn) a of part as Trust Rivers Ribble by created been has walk This

growing population of Darwen with water. The West TA02 (Darwen - Bury)

Pennine Moors, with high rainfall and impermeable rock, users other and wildlife consider Code: Countryside the Follow

•

provided an ideal location for a number of reservoirs. In

drinks and food spare Carry

Sunnyhurst Wood car park August 2016, a large landslide occurred in Sunnyhurst •

compass and map kit, aid first phone, mobile charged a Take

Wood, close to the reservoir, at the edge of a United •

conditions forecast for suitable clothing and boots sturdy Wear

Utilities pumping station. •

Roddlesworth Visitor Centre safely Enjoy

3. The ruins of Hollinshead Hall lie Catchment Ribble The

Council) Borough Darwen with (Blackburn Walk Tower Darwen

within Plantation. The •

Various in Darwen

Way Weavers Witton

ruins are from a house, stables and •

farm buildings built in 1776 by John Trail Nature

Hollinshead. The dwelling remained •

The Sunnyhurst (Darwen) trails Nearby

in the Hollinshead family until the Royal Arms & Rock Inn (Tockholes)

early Victorian times and was sold to

Well future. the for legacy positive a leave to aim we science, on based

mill owner Eccles Shorrock in 1845. House action, environmental practical Through educate. and inspire

The Olde Kiosk (Darwen) The hall and surrounding land were bought by

Vaughns Country Café (Tockholes) to river the using and access improving rivers, the of heritage the

Liverpool Corporation in the early 1900s for the celebrates project The wildlife. and people for 2020 by system

Follow us: us: Follow

is working to create a healthier river river healthier a create to working is construction of reservoirs in the area. The Well House is Together Life Ribble

WILDLIFE: Deer are still visible today and features a carved lion’s head spout, occasionally spotted the water from which is claimed to cure eye ailments. in the woodland sections of this route. The 4. - completed in 1898 to celebrate Queen was Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, the designated as a Site of Special tower is also seen as a symbol of River Walks the victory of local people when Scientific Interest (SSSI) in 2016 public access to Darwen Moor due to its nationally important Curlew was reinstated after an 18 year Darwen Tower habitats. Totalling 76 km², it is the largest legal battle. At 85 ft high, in clear site nominated Jubilee weather, the tower allows views since 2004. The rugged Tower of Bay, terrain is home to curlew, Tower, , the snipe, merlin, lapwing and and north Wales. In the mid-20th century, the tower fell redshank. Keep an eye out into disrepair, was bricked up and almost demolished. In for great spotted 1972, it was fully renovated at a cost of £3,000 and This route visits the picturesque woodpeckers and tree reopened. woodlands of Sunnyhurst and creepers in the wooded areas Tockholes and showcases Kingfisher and dippers and kingfishers 5. Visible from Jubilee Tower is India spectacular views from Darwen along the water’s edge. Mill. Completed in 1867, the mill India Moor. took 14 years to build and is named Mill WHAT TO EXPECT: after the India Cotton which ran The industrial history of Darwen This walk begins by Sunnyhurst Wood, winding through through its looms. At the time of combines with the rugged woodland, following Sunnyhurst Brook. After passing completion, the 303 ft high chimney countryside of the West Pennine Earnsdale Reservoir, the route continues through was the tallest and most expensive in Moors on this scenic walk. woodland at Tockholes Plantation before heading up the country. The owners of the mill, onto Darwen Moor to Jubilee Tower. The terrain is Eccles Shorrock, Brother & Company mainly woodland paths and well maintained footpaths. were left bankrupt by the cost of the Due to the length and gradient (in places) of this walk, mill and the impacts of the cotton famine. In 1874, the sturdy footwear such as boots is recommended. India Mills Cotton Spinning Company Ltd was formed to Livestock are present in some of the fields on this route, purchase and run the mill. The structure is still reported to be the tallest surviving chimney in the UK. (Please note: India so please keep dogs on a lead. If cattle get too close or Distance: 9.1 km / 5.7 miles Mill is not visible on the map overleaf, but lies a little further east, become excitable, let the dog off the lead. level with Jubilee Tower on the A666). Difficulty: Moderate/Hard

ROUTE DIRECTIONS The views open out magnificently to the Ribble Estuary and coast and across the border into and A. Through Sunnyhurst Wood the Three Peaks. Follow the track as it winds its way to the From the car park, go through the gap in tower. On the final approach, at the fork in the paths, head the fence in the opposite corner to the towards the tower. For those with a head for heights, the entrance. Head downhill into the woods, views from the top are outstanding – stretching as far as taking the right hand path at the junction, Snowdonia and the Isle of Man on a clear day. then join the main path heading downhill to the valley floor. Follow the path left Sunnyhurst F. Back to Sunnyhurst car park past the Greenway Shelter and continue along From the tower, head back towards the Wood the footpath next to the brook and then over the white stone marker and turn right down footbridge, staying left beside the brook. the gravel path, descending north east (towards Pendle). Follow the track all the way to the road, bearing left and B. To Earnsdale Reservoir Views from At the Ellis Gibson fishpond, fork right and climb away from downhill where it forks. Turn left at the brook, following the path through the woods to the Darwen Hill the Sunnyhurst pub to return to the corner of the reservoir. Go through the kissing gate and car park. continue straight ahead on the footpath, climbing steeply along a cobbled cart track for 250m. At Earnsdale the viewpoint, where the gradient levels, THE RIVERS: Sunnyhurst Brook winds through Sunnyhurst Reservoir continue straight ahead on the gravel Wood before joining the in Darwen town bridleway to reach the road. centre. Further along the walk route, we follow the course of the , which joins the River Darwen near C. To Roddlesworth Reservoir . Cross the road and head left along the pavement for just less than 200m, then The Industrial Revolution saw the expansion of areas such as take the bridleway on the right into the Blackburn and Darwen as the textile industry grew locally. A woods. Follow the path, downhill, number of weirs were constructed along the Darwen to through the woods. When the path joins a larger footpath, harness and control the power of the river. The development turn left. Continue to follow the path over two streams, and of paint works and chemical factories along the riverbanks after the second, larger stream, continue uphill. Where the path levels out after the uphill, look out for a wooden weave- meant that it was common for the River Darwen to run ‘the style gateway BUT DO NOT TAKE THIS. Instead, with the colours of the rainbow’. wooden gateway to your left, head in a 2 o’clock direction, downhill, to the right (the path is not very well defined, do In recent years, there have been a number of factors which not take the gravel path behind you to the right). At the have helped to improve the water quality of the River bottom of the slope, turn left to join another footpath and Darwen, such as a reduction in industry and stricter follow it round to the River Roddlesworth. Cross the stone environmental regulation. Two weirs have been altered by footbridge. Ribble Rivers Trust to improve access for migratory species D. Through Tockholes such as salmon and trout (see below for further information). Plantation

Follow the footpath left along the stream and up the steps. Continue Ribble Rivers Trust projects (not visible on map, left along the track through tall see grid references) stands of beech trees - a River spectacular sight in autumn - : A rock ramp bypass channel was installed in before descending the steps (left) Roddlesworth 2018 to reconnect river habitat and improve access upstream to follow the stream again. There’s a lovely for migratory fish species. A radio tagging study of brown trout place to paddle here where the stream flows carried out after the fish pass was opened confirmed that fish over flat beds of . Creep up to the water’s edge were using the structure to easily pass the weir. and see if you can spot one of the resident brown trout (Location: SD 6868 2519 - the weir is on private land, but is visible from through the clear water. You’ll have to be very quiet and the River Darwen Parkway Local Nature Reserve off Millbrook Street.) stealthy though! Continue upstream to the gate, then left Bottoms: Of all the barriers preventing fish migra- across the bridge, turning right straight after the bridge to tion on the River Darwen, Hoghton Bottoms was the largest. A follow the Witton Weavers Way upstream. rock ramp fish easement was completed by Ribble Rivers Trust

E. To Jubilee Tower in 2018 and has helped to reconnect 22.7 km of river habitat After a steep climb, continue through the by allowing fish to swim over the weir. (Location: SD 6277 2619 - accessible via a public footpath.) gate and follow the bridleway towards the ruins of Hollinshead Hall. [A short detour here will take you to the Hollinshead Fish Hall Well House. At the distinctive signpost, pass head straight on (‘To Belmont’) and look out for the Well House over to the left. For more Darwen information about the building see point 3, Hill overleaf, under ‘LOOK OUT FOR’. Retrace your steps to return to the original route]. At the distinctive signpost, take the path left towards Hoghton Bottoms Darwen Moor. At the edge of the woods, cross the road with Route guide and content copyright © Ribble Rivers Trust 2020. care, heading left, then take the first right (a track onto the Contains Ordnance Survey data moor signposted ‘Lyon Den’). Stay on the gravel track as it Every effort has been made to provide accurate information in this guide. © Crown copyright and database right 2020. Ribble Rivers Trust cannot take responsibility for any errors. No climbs then traverses the summit plateau. recommendation is given by inclusion or omission of any establishment.