Tuesday, 7th February 2012

 

Walk: White Coppice, Solomon's Temple, Roddlesworth Reservoirs, Darwen Tower, Hollinshead Hall, Great Hill
Start Point: White Coppice cricket ground car park Grid Ref: SD 619 190
Distance: 12.5 miles Ascent: 1,750 feet
Weather: A cold, crisp and sunny day Time: 6.5 hours
Comments: With a cold, dry day forecast I decided on a visit to Darwen (Jubilee) Tower to check out the new dome that had been put in place.  I took one of the usual routes to Solomon's Temple then tried out some different paths through Tockholes Plantation. Passing above Earnsdale Reservoir I soon reached the Tower but was unable to get a closer view of the new dome as the entrance to the Tower was barred.  After making my way across Darwen Moor and down to the ruins of Hollinshead Hall I took the track to Adam's Delf to ascend Great Hill. This track was initially very muddy due to the passage of large machinery but it gradually improved. The cross shelter on Great Hill is in the process of being improved but work seems to have come to a stop. It was then an easy walk back down to White Coppice.

 

Scroll down to see photos of the walk

Alongside the River Goit

 

Icy track on Wheelton Moor

 

Solomon's Temple

 

An icy Rake Brook Reservoir

 

An argument seemed to be going on from the noise these geese were making

 

No fishing today - they are hiding under the covering of ice

 

An icy bridge takes me across Rive Roddlesworth

 

Darwen Tower, a grade II listed building, first erected in 1897 to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria

 

The original dome, made from wood, blew off in high winds in 1947 and was replaced by a fibreglass top in 1971, which blew off in high winds in November 2010.

 

A new dome, made from powder-coated stainless steel, was put in place on Friday 13th January 2012

 

Unfortunately the entrance to the tower was barred on my visit

 

It looks more like a bright autumn day than the middle of winter

 

Hollinshead Hall

 

The repairs don't seem to be making any progress as nothing has changed since my last visit in December

Return to 2012 Diary

Return to top