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
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