THE WEST PENNINE MOORS EXPLORE! DISCOVER! ENJOY!

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 • Explore 90 square miles of unspoilt Bowland, the Dales, Centre. The centre houses an WEST PENNINE MOORS and the three statuesque giants, exhibition gallery for local , numerous reservoirs and Whernside, Ingleborough and artists and also childrens’ beautiful woodland A West Pennine Pen-y-ghent. environmental activities. • Discover hidden valleys and explore Tower Walk 2 A splendid view of Darwen can For opening times contact some of the many historic villages Moors Trail also be obtained. Note the 300- 01254 701545 or visit foot India Mill chimney, which www..gov.uk/parks • Enjoy getting close to nature – see was modelled on the style of a Curlews, Peregrines and Brown Venetian campanile. Red Grouse hares • Wander the long distance walk, the see Ordnance Survey map Explorer SUNNYHURST WOOD Witton Weavers Way – the full 32 series No. 287 West Pennine Moors. Along the banks of Sunnyhurst The Kiosk serves drinks and miles, or one of four shorter circular Adjacent to the car park is a Brook in Sunnyhurst Wood is snacks, is fully licensed and is walks Lychgate giving access to the the picturesque Olde England also registered for marriage For more information contact The wood. Kiosk, erected in 1911 –12 by ceremonies. For opening times • Large areas of the West Pennine Great House Barn 01204 691549 or Sunnyhurst Wood was public subscription to contact (01254) 701530. Moors are designated ‘Open Access’ visit www.westpenninemoors.com originally planted in the early commemorate the Coronation 1800’s to provide cover for of King George V. game birds, but was purchased by public subscription in 1902 NOTES FOR WALKERS and developed as a woodland park. Covering some 85 acres the wood lies in an attractive Essential Kit For information on local attractions, events, valley which is rich in both bird The OS Explorer Map No. 287 places of interest and accommodation, and plant life. Over 280 species (West Pennine Moors) provides please contact Blackburn Tourist of flowering plants can be seen excellent aid and information on Information Centre. Tel: 01254 688040. together with a variety of Email: [email protected] woodland birds including the all areas covered in this guide. Web: visitblackburnwithdarwen.com Great spotted woodpecker, (Ordnance Survey tel: 08456 Nuthatch, Tree creeper, Tawny 050505 / www.ordsvy.gov.uk) owl and the very shy Jay. Along Alternatively visit the Blackburn with the stream the Grey wagtail, Further Information Darwen website at: Kingfisher and Dipper can also If you are travelling to the start of the walk www.blackburn.gov.uk/parks sometimes be glimpsed. using public transport, please contact Ramblers at the Lychgate Hotel Travel Line on: Countryside Tel: 0871 200 2233. Services Office. Tel: 01254 691239 Web: www.traveline.org.uk for countryside information and events or Blackburn Central Railway Station email: [email protected] (Enquiries). Tel: 08457 484950. If you have enjoyed this walk, why not try out one of the other Heritage Trails within the West Pennine Moors: , or the Please note that every effort has been taken to ensure North and South trails. details are correct at the time of printing. Blackburn The latter two can be combined with Darwen Borough Council cannot accept A walk of 2 miles, to form an enjoyable five-mile responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor any circular walk. consequence arising from use of the information. 1.5 hours – Reprinted Dec 2008 by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Countryside Services. one short steep ascent Sunnyhurst Wood Huntington Bridge. Photos: Mike Tattersall, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council WEST PENNINE MOORS and Simon Booth. Darwen Tower Walk No. 2 A walk of 2 miles, 1.5 hours – one short steep ascent A WEST PENNINE MOORS TRAIL

Along this path your can enjoy This circular walk takes in some fantastic views of the surrounding Sunnyhurst Wood 9 To fine views to your left. Note countryside from Darwen Moor. SUNNYHURST Ryal Fold, a small group of PUBLIC HOUSE A666 / With the kissing gate on your farmhouse and whitewashed right continue down the track. You are strongly advised to use these walk details in conjunction with OS Explorer map 10 Darwen cottages. Amongst the trees is No. 287, West Pennine Moors. Town Centre To the left you can see the café and Water Treatment Plant adjacent Sunnyhurst Wood P information centre (Tel: 01254 to Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir. Earnsdale Car Park START LYCHGATE 708568) HOTEL 1 Reservoir WATERMAN’S 1 10 COTTAGE 6 Start from Sunnyhurst Wood Continue on passing through a Continue along the path, Lychgate car park. Brown 2 KISSING gate and on down the track. As forking right past a stone tourist signs off the A666 direct GATE the path splits into two, take waymarker. To your left is you up Earnsdale Road to this the fork to the left. At the end Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir car park. of the path turn left (opposite completed in 1875. At one Family Walking on Darwen Moor the Sunnyhurst Pub) along 2 time, during dry weather when Tockholes Road back to levels were low, water was Sunnyhurst Wood Lychgate car HILL LANE pumped out of old flooded Turn right out of the car park 9 SNIDDLE park. up the lane leading past Sunnyhurst Hey STONE KISSING mine workings to replenish the spotted circling overhead. Waterman’s Cottage. At the Reservoir MARKER GATE reservoir. Alongside the drystone walls in fork keep left, climbing up the The Lychgate at Sunnyhurst Wood the spring look out for THE VIEW FROM THE TOWER hill. 7 Wheatear. The walls are also Below to the right is To the south nearby are Winter Earnsdale Reservoir home to mice, weasels and the Ahead a short path on the right Hill (1,498ft) with its TV and constructed in 1854 to supply 3 Common lizard. leads up to Darwen Tower. radio mast and also Darwen with water. Now 8 Continue along the farm track merging with distant sheltered by trees it provides a favourite rendezvous for local O.S. MARKER DARWEN passing Higher Wenshead Farm Snowdonia and Great Orme’s haven for waterfowl in the walkers. It fell into disrepair TOWER on your left going through a DARWEN TOWER 8 Head, with the Irish Sea winter. Note also Sunnyhurst earlier last century. farm gate. Keep ahead and go beyond. On a clear day the Wood nestling in the valley 7 Darwen Tower stands through a second gate. Bear 5 After visiting the Tower, retrace can be seen. bottom and Darwen Golf overlooking the town at a your steps down the hill to the left and climb the steps up the HIGHER Further along the coast, Course on the hillside beyond. height of 1225feet and is 86 Ordnance Survey triangulation hillside. Note the stone Carry on up the track to the top WENSHEAD Southport, Preston and the FARM feet tall. It is the most point. Take the path on the waymarker, with the carving of of the hill. Turn left at the Ribble Estuary, Blackpool and prominent landmark in the right and at the next junction Darwen Tower and direction wooden bench which overlooks 6 its tower lead to the River area. It has a circular viewing carry on straight ahead down arrow, as you pass over the Stepback Clough. This is typical 3 platform on the way up as well Lune and Black Combe in KISSING the broad path. As you follow stile. This is the first of several of the small wooded valleys to as the parapet walk at the top. . GATE STONE the path down note the kissing markers you follow on your be found on the fringes of the Its history is written on the MARKER gate on your right. This is route to Darwen Tower. high moorland in this area. STILE shield on the front of the NOT the route back but is the Stepback is also steeped in local STONE tower. 4 history. It is believed to have STE MARKER top of Sniddle Hill Lane as it got its name when Oliver PBAC ‘OWD winds downhill to Darwen At the top of the steps following K B 4 AGGIES town centre. A separate leaflet Cromwell, on the moor with ROO STILE WILDLIFE ON THE MOOR Darwen Tower Walk No 1 the path in front the remains of his troops in bad weather said, K ‘ ’ Stepback Cottage better know ‘step back, go no further’. STILE If walking early in the covering this route was devised morning, look out for the as ‘Owd Aggies’. The name How true this is, no one can STONE STONE in 1996 to commemorate the derives from the owner who really be sure! There is MARKER MARKER occasional fox out hunting. granting of public access to the was attacked by armed thieves however some evidence to 5 Red Grouse can be seen all moors a hundred years earlier. in 1860. They ransacked the suggest that opposing forces Stepback year round on the moor, with cottage and stole £5. It later skirmished not far away in To Clough Curlew and Meadow Pipit in became a refreshment house Tockholes. As you turn left at Ryal Fold the rough pasture. Peregrine Abundant Wildlife. Sunnyhurst Wood Visitor Centre serving teas of oatcakes and the bench note the stone At the foot of Darwen Tower. Falcons can sometimes be An ideal spot for a picnic stop. buttermilk, which became a waymarker again as you continue along the path.