Walk: | White Coppice, Wheelton Plantation, Roddlesworth Reservoirs, Jubilee Tower (Darwen), Great Hill | ||
Start Point: | White Coppice Cricket Club car park | Grid Ref: | SD 619 190 |
Distance: | 11.3 miles | Ascent: | 2,500 feet |
Weather: | An early shower cleared to leave a dry day with sunny spells | ||
Accompanied by: |
10 members of the group, led by me |
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Comments: | Setting out alongside the Goit we were pleased not to walking in the quagmire created by contractors vehicles on the opposite side. A good path took us through Wheelton Plantation before heading up onto Wheelton Moor. The conditions underfoot remained damp, to say the least, as we made our way through tussocky grass and across to the A675. We quickly left the road to cross a field and head into Tockholes Plantations on our way to Roddlesworth Reservoirs. Examining the fast flowing water in the weir we then took advantage of the reservoir walls to stop for a morning coffee. A short climb took us up to a minor road from which we joined part of the Witton Weavers Way. This led into Sunnyhurst Wood and after passing the bandstand we turned off the main path to exit the woods via the Lych Gate. A climb then took us up to Jubilee Tower, also known as Darwen Tower. After exploring the various viewing levels within the Tower we made our way across Darwen Moor to Slipper Lowe car park - where they now charge a fee for parking! A short stroll took us down to the ruins of Hollinshead Hall where we stopped to eat lunch. After another short stretch on the A675 we started the last climb of the day, to Great Hill. The route is in serious need of attention with a wide band of flattened boggy ground stretching up the hillside. Similarly part of the descent route to White Coppice is seriously rutted and muddy, due largely to mountain bikes using this route. Hopefully something will be done to stop the erosion in the not too distant future!!! |
Scroll down to see photos of the walk
Leaving Wheelton Plantation the bridge takes us over Hatch Brook
A new roof and a lick of paint?!
Heading over Wheelton Moor towards Jubilee Tower
A carpet of leaves adorn the banks of Rake Brook
John and Ray enjoyed the tunnel access . . .
as do Tony and John
The weir between Roddlesworth Reservoirs . . .
looking down . . .
and up from the bridge
The nearby walls provide a good spot . . .
for our morning break
Leaving the woodland the reservoir can be seen through the leafless trees . . .
and Wheelton can be seen in the distance
There are a number of paths in Sunnyhurst Woods, and this bridge takes one path over the brook
The group finds time to . . .
explore the bandstand . . .
before climbing up to the Lych Gate
A bird's eye view from the top of the Tower . . .
Sunnyhurst Hey and Earnsdale Reservoirs
Darwen is surrounded by fields and moors . . .
but Blackburn sprawls out across the landscape
Down . . .
and out!
What a difference 180 degrees makes - Blackburn to the North-east . . .
and Darwen Moor to the South-west
The sun highlights the Tower . . .
as we make our way across the moor
The Tower fades into the distance . . .
as Great Hill comes into view
The Well House at Hollinshead Hall, an early holy well restored in the 17th century
The ruins of the hall provide a good spot for lunch
Still sunny, as we leave Tockholes Plantations . . .
and begin the climb . . .
along a rather 'mushy' path . . .
to Great Hill . . .
and 'wetness' remains the order of the day as we descend to White Coppice