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| "I can see our walk from here" |
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Date : 18th January 2009
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Leader : Pauline Hughes |
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Report by : Phil Bedson |
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Photos © : Phil Bedson |
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| CLICK HERE FOR ROUTE DETAILS |
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| The Jubilee Tower aka Darwen Tower | |
It was a cold and sunny morning at Roddlesworth Information Centre when twelve members of Hyndburn Group arrived for a 10 mile walk. Pauline Hughes was the leader for the day and our route was to take in woods and moorland via Darwen Tower and Great Hill.
We set off along a small lane at the side of the Royal Oak to go through the farmyard of Ryal Fold itself before striking out, at a brisk pace it must be said, over fields to the northern edge of Earnsdale reservoir where a small uneven cobbled path took us down into Sunnyhurst Wood. The well used tracks then took us past the old Bandstand and up to the main entrance and its lychgate type structure. Passing the Sunnyhurst Inn the group turned up a bridleway to start the ascent up Darwen Hill to the Jubilee Tower, known locally as Darwen Tower, built to commerorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. A few of our group climbed to the top and admired the splendid views.
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left:
The view over Earnsdale Reservoir |
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right: The Lychgate entrance to Sunnyhurst Woods |
After a short rest and a chinwag with a group of walkers from Liverpool we set off over Darwen Moor along a well trodden footpath before descending down the moor to join the road about a mile south of our start point. We crossed the road to enter a plantation via a small wall stile and made our way through the trees to arrive at the ruins of Hollinshead Hall. Originally the manor house to the nearby village of Tockholes there is evidence it may have been in existence in the 15th Century. It was more than likely demolished around the turn of the 20th Century when the surrounding area was acquired for water catchment.
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left:
Looking back to the tower from Darwen Moor |
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right: Crossing the sponge |
From here Pauline led the way up to the A675 where, upon joining the road, we turned right for about 100m to take the footpath across from Piccadilly which would lead us to our lunch venue atop Great Hill. We made our way through the reeds bouncing on the soft ground as though walking on a sponge as we negotiated the lower slopes. The ground further up was marginally drier and, despite the going underfoot, we were soon at the windbreak shelter at the summit where the group ate and drank their foodstuffs in a very cold swirling wind.
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left:
Our path to Great Hill |
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right: How far have we come? |
The descent of Great Hill is a very easy affair as it follows a well worn path and track, through the abandoned farmstead of Drinkwaters and around Brown Hill, to circumnavigate the western edge of Wheelton Moor. Just above Brinscall we left the track for a footpath across the moor to cross a stream by way of some stepping stones. Field paths then took us back to re-cross the A675.
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left:
Going past Drinkwaters |
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right: Crossing the stepping stones |
Passing through the next farm we noted the path went through the edge of an outbuilding which meant the gate could be kept locked and all commented on the imagination of the creator. The track led us down towards the Roddlesworth reservoirs where we joined a woodland trail through a plantation, just as the light rain started. We proceeded alongside the River Roddlesworth before taking a trail uphill to emerge from whence we started just as the light rain stopped. After a quick change of footwear the group embarked on our final journey to the bar of the Royal Oak where jovial discussions about the day and other related topics took place.
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left:
A path through a building |
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right: The River Roddlesworth |
| OS EXPLORER |
WEST PENNINES 287 |
START POINT |
SD 664 215 |
| WALK LENGTH |
10.62 mls / 17 km |
TIME |
4 hrs 15 m |
| MAX HEIGHT |
391.00 mtrs |
MIN HEIGHT |
189.72 mtrs |
| HEIGHT ASCENDED |
511.33 mtrs |
HEIGHT DESCENDED |
511.33 mtrs |
This map is for reference only and MUST NOT be used to do the walk.
Please use the correct OS map for all these walks.
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