Reelers Trail Walk No.2 7.5 miles (easy, with a couple of short steep ascents) WALK2 REELERS TRAIL 7.5 miles (easy, with a The Reelers Trail forms part of the long distance Witton Weavers Way. The Reelers Trail forms part of the long distance Witton Weavers Way. This walk covers a beautiful rural landscape where historical sites of industry, farming and religion combine to produce a fascinating trail. You are strongly advised to use these walk details in conjunction with OS Explorer map No. 287, West Pennine Moors. Stout shoes or boots plus waterproofs are recommended. START: Livesey Library, Cherry Tree Lane, off Preston Old Road (A674) PUBLIC TRANSPORT: 1/2 mile from Cherry Tree railway station. A frequent bus service operates along Preston Old Road PARKING: Cherry Tree Lane Alternative parking and start point (see OS map for exact location): Abbey Village, A675 Bolton Road 8–9 9 - 10 From Cherry Tree library take Turn right under the bridge Proceed along the track up the the path up to the Leeds and along the towpath for 11/2 mile. field towards Stanworth Farm Liverpool canal. Whilst on the towpath you will and the M65. As you approach cross the former Blackburn to the motorway climb the ladder Chorley railway line built stile over the stone wall on your 1866-9. There was a station at left and continue down the field Feniscowles but the line fully to the wood. At the bottom of closed in 1968. the field turn right under the motorway and follow the wood You will also walk underneath boundary through two fields. At Livesey Branch Road, a short the corner of the second field turnpike road opening in 1810, climb the stile into Stanworth linking Ewood to Feniscowles. Wood. This woodland is part As you approach a mill tower of the largest area of semi- for the Sun Paper Mill on the ancient woodland in south right go under the steel bridge, Lancashire and is botanically up the ramp and over the very rich. Drop down into the Damsel Flies by the Leeds & Liverpool bridge. wood along the track that Canal There were two paper mills appears on the left. here; the Sun and the Star built When you approach a clump of The canal (127 miles) is the during the 1870’s. The Star holly bushes, take an indistinct longest single canal in Britain was the first local firm to have track that doubles back down and took from 1770 to 1816 to electricity. Both mills turned to the right. (The holly bushes complete. It was originally rags into paper and had have grown over the original planned to pass through tramways to the canal to track). As you approach the Whalley, following the Rivers delivery the raw materials. River Roddlesworth take an Calder and Ribble. The indistinct path that drops down economic draw however of the to the right. On reaching the rapidly expanding cotton river cross by the wooden towns of East Lancashire was footbridge. too great an opportunity for the merchants and builders to miss. a couple of short steep ascents) Blackurn 10 - 11 Town Centre A stile can be observed on the Cherry Tree crest of the hill to the right. Railway Station Climb the field towards it. Once over the stile cross the Cherry Tree bridge directly ahead over the 8 START disused railway. Bradley Farm can be seen ahead. ROAD Feniscowles NCH Y BRA ESE 15 LIV AD 62 RO 60 Preston OLD A ESTON 4 PR SUN PAPER A67 MILL L L 9 LEEDS & IVER NA BRO POOL CA KEN ST O NE ROAD STANWORTH 14 FARM Higher M65 MOTORWAY Whitehalgh 10 P BRADLEY FARM A 6 7 13 5 CHAPELS B OL FARM T O N R O Tockholes A D Go directly left of the large barn Abbey through the gate, Village turn right into the HARE & HIGHER farmyard and proceed HOUNDS HILL FARM down the long track PUBLIC HOUSE seen ahead. The track 11 12 goes through three fields. At the end of the third field do not go through the gate to Red Lea Farm, but turn right along the fence. Belmont WITTON WEAVERS WAY Excellent watering hole The Royal Arms watering hole The Royal Excellent Climb a stile and then a second the steps on the left and cross stile on your left. Continue by footbridge or the ford. alongside the wood on your Follow the track until you reach right. Drop down a grassy track Lower Roddlesworth Reservoir. just before the farm. Continue Turn left and cross the down the steps to cross the embankment. The path swings River Roddlesworth. Turn right right through a gate to enter a when you reach the track, wood. climbing it as it winds up the hill. Continue along the track to 12 - 13 Take the lower track to the left the car park of the Hare and and then turn left down the Hounds Public House and turn Follow the track for about 500 narrow bridleway to the left of the immediately left along the track yards, climbing gradually. Just row of houses known as by the culvert. before a fork turn left up a path, Cheetham Buildings. This Here you are skirting the through a kissing gate and into bridleway is one of the oldest southern end of Abbey Village. a field. highways in this district. It is an ancient packhorse road dating The name is thought to have Climb the field, heading back to Saxon times and part of arisen from a connection with towards the right hand side of the old roadway from Whalley Abbey. According to the 17th century Higher Hill Rossendale to Preston. tradition there was a route to Farm, seen ahead. Go through the Abbey from a secret the stone stile, turn left and At the crossroads at the bottom passage at Brinscall Hall through another stile into the of the hill notice on the right through the Roddlesworth farm lane. As you pass the hand corner the old parish pound area, (where a cross may still farm, take note of the or pinfold, where stray animals be seen on one of the farm garderobe on the outside of this were impounded until reclaimed. buildings) to Whalley. The grade II listed building. The On the opposite corner is an old village was built at the time of small room jutting out on the graveyard. the industrial revolution to first floor was once the height In 1803 a breakaway group from serve a large cotton mill. The of fashion in hygienic toilets! the Congregational Chapel built mill, now closed has been You are now entering the the Bethesda Chapel on this site. converted into small industrial picturesque stone-built village In 1899 the stones from the units. of Tockholes, with several large decaying chapel were used to farmhouses dating from the build a new Sunday school, it R oddlesworth Woods 17th century. The Manor now serves as the Village Hall. House, on the site of the now Victoria Terrace, the row of derelict Hollinshead hall is cottages on the opposite right- visited on the Tackler’s Trail. hand corner (once called Bethesda Row), were handloom Tockholes is a popular starting weavers’ cottages point for walks - there is the Roddlesworth Visitor Centre Continue ahead down the lane, next to the Royal Arms with bearing right and keeping to the plenty of parking. This is the made road, following it round start of the Roddlesworth past the United Reformed Chapel. nature trail and many of the Tockholes was a stronghold of walks to Darwen Tower begin Nonconformity in the time of 11 - 12 from this point. Charles II and this chapel was After leaving Higher Hill Farm known as the Mother of The route takes you along Rake continue up the lane, passing Nonconformity as one of the Brook Reservoir. As you the old weavers' cottages and first established in the area in approach the house go down turning left at the junction. 1662. L T ockholes’ Memorial ychgate 13 – 14 USEFUL INFORMATION As you approach several large modern houses follow the Blackburn Tourist Information 'stepping stones' in the grass Centre (01254) 53277 or verge on your right and climb www.tourism.blackburnworld.com the stile. Follow the left-hand Travel Centre (01254) 681120 fence line to the corner of the Continue along the road past field, cross the ditch on a small Hare & Hounds, Abbey Village the memorial Lych Gate, wooden bridge and climb the (01254) 830334 erected in 1920 to honour stile. Continue down the edge of Roddlesworth Information Centre villagers who gave their lives in the field over another stile and (01254) 704502 the First World War. Walk past halfway down the next field Lodge Farm (a splendid climb a stile between a gate example of a farmhouse with and a twisted old oak tree. 14 – 15 combined shippon) then onto Follow the hedge line down to the renovated Chapels Barn the wood. At the bottom of this Turn right onto the lane and Over the wall past the barn can field climb the stile into the under the M65. After about 400 be seen Chapels Farm, another wood and cross the footbridge yards turn second right towards listed 17th century farmhouse. over Sheep Bridge Brook. In Lower Whitehalgh Farmhouse. Do A few yards further along on the this area there is evidence that not go into the farmyard but veer left is the Church of St Stephen, a clash took place here during left through the gate following the with a Lych Gate erected in the Civil War, with the remains track along the wall.