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| WWW.CherryTree.Walk |
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Date : 12th June 2010
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Leader : Gail Bedson |
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Report by : Phil Bedson |
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Photos © : Phil Bedson |
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| The Leeds - Liverpool Canal | |
Accrington Train Station was the meeting point for Hyndburn Ramblers Train Ramble to Cherry Tree. Upon leaving the train the group ascended the ramp out of the station before heading down to cross the main road before taking the first side street off to their left. A narrow path led down into Witton Park, which was quite busy with dog-walkers and cyclists whilst a model aircraft buzzed overhead. We made our way through the park to take a path up through the trees which wound its way uphill at a steady rate. The sun was shining through the trees and everybody was definitely heating up as we arrived at the track in front of Billinge Wood which turned into a suitable spot to remove some layers. Taking the track left a sharp double back after 100metres took us uphill a little more and as we reached the crest of the ridge a superb view of North Lancashire came into view. We could see Longridge Fell with the Bowland Fells behind directly to the North and over the coastal plain Blackpool Tower and Heysham were clear on the horizon whilst in the far North West the outline of Black Combe in the Southern Lakes could be made out. Behind us to the South were Darwen Tower and Winter Hill which also highlighted just how high we actually were.
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left:
Woodland path... |
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right: ...with walkers |
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left:
Darwen Tower |
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right: Blackpool Tower and
Heysham Power Station |
After a drink the route resumed along the Witton Weavers Way (WWW) for about half a mile, passing by the flooded disused quarry of Butlers Delf, to join a small lane and leave the WWW. A small path off through the trees was taken although the way out proved to be a little more difficult as, even though the route had been reccied, the turn off was momentarily lost in the undergrowth. Having found the path again we took a stile into a field where we had a break in the sun before continuing on through the fields to pass Maiden House Farm and on to join the road above Pleasington. Crossing over to take a track we passed a row of cottages, some with wonderful garden displays, to around past Higher Park Farm to rejoin the WWW on to Hoghton Bottoms. After passing a rather smelly farm due to an overflowing silage pit we took a field stile to go uphill, past an unusual brick dome (thought to be either a well cover or a small ice-house), and on to cross the railway line. After passing through a small wood a stile brought us out at the northern boundary wall of Houghton Tower which was followed around for a short while before a decision was made to have lunch.
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left:
Butlers Delf |
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right: Well head or Ice-house? |
With the sun continuing to make the day extremely pleasant we resumed the walk around the curtain wall to eventually arrive at drive up to Hoghton Tower. This was to be as close as we could get due to it being a private residence although the Tower and grounds are open during the summer months. Hoghton Tower is said to be the place where James I allegedly ‘knighted’ a piece of beef which has since that time been known as Sirloin. As we started off again a couple of buzzards were spotted hunting above a field and everyone paused momentarily to watch their display before continuing on across fields to join the road next to the Royal Oak at Riley Green. It was decided to pass up the chance of a drink here in order to ensure we would catch the 15.40 train home, so we continued on along the road for a short while to take a track off to our left which we would follow all the way to the River Darwen. The riverside path was extremely pleasant and looked for all the world like it was not used by many. We entered a small wood and ascended up through the trees to enter a field before heading off to Hillock Farm and on to the road.
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left:
Hoghton Tower -
the front door.... |
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right: ...and a back door! |
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left:
Deadwood |
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right: The River Darwen |
Crossing the road the path entered the grounds of a long since demolished mill and the dereliction around us was quite obvious but upon reaching the standing paper mill a small path led us uphill to join the canal towpath. Another drink stop was had here in quite beautiful and serene circumstances. This latter part of the walk would follow the Leeds-Liverpool canal all the way back to the station but not before we had passed a barge marina with its many boats. Numerous gardens from numerous houses backed onto the canal on the opposite bank and perhaps one of the most interesting and unusual was one which had not only a red phone box but also a red post box! As we proceeded an increasing number of people walking dogs meant we were obviously nearing the built up areas and pretty soon we arrived at the bridge by which to leave the canal. As we had about three quarters of an hour to spare before our train we headed into the Railway for a spot of refreshment and a little shade from the incessant sun.
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| Canalside furniture? | |
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES IN THE GALLERY
| OS EXPLORER |
WEST PENNINES 287 |
START POINT |
SD 658 264 |
| WALK LENGTH |
8.8 mls / 14.5 km |
TIME WALKING |
3 hrs 45 mins |
| MAX HEIGHT |
218 mtrs |
MIN HEIGHT |
59 mtrs |
| HEIGHT ASCENDED |
380 mtrs |
HEIGHT DESCENDED |
380 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.
Click on an image to enlarge, click again to reduce
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