Pennine Walker, a photographic walking diary

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11th March 2017 - Darwen Moor

Walk Details

​Distance walked: 5.9 miles

Total ascent: 1081 ft

OS map used: 287 - West Pennine Moors

Time taken: 3 hrs

Route description: Roddlesworth Information Centre, Tockholes Road-Ryal Fold-Darwen Hill-Witton Weavers Way-Duckshaw Clough-Darwen Moor-Cartridge Hill-Tockholes Road-Witton Weavers Way-River Roddlesworth-Roddlesworth Information Centre, Tockholes Road

Not the best of weather forecast for this weekend and when I set off for a few hours walk on Darwen Moor this lunchtime it was in anticipation of it being wet tomorrow. Little did I know that it would be much better than I expected. It was still good to get out though despite the resolutely grey skies and poor visibility.

I started the walk from the car park of the Roddlesworth Information Centre on the Tockholes Road. From the back of the car park I took the short cut to the track to Ryal Fold Farm. I followed a field path downhill towards Earnsdale Reservoir before heading up to the track round the north side of Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir. I then made my way up to the Jubilee Tower on Darwen Hill. The Witton Weavers Way trail was then followed round the eastern side of the moor until I reached Duckshaw Clough, here I left the trail for a track that goes up and over the moor. I did a there and back to the top of Cartridge Hill before following the track down to the Tockholes Road. I crossed over and then made my way through the woods down to the River Roddlesworth. To finish, I had a steep path to climb up to the car park.

Route map
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. License number PU 100034184.

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Setting off on the footpath to Ryal Fold
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and then it's down and across a field towards Earnsdale Reservoir
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Approaching Jubilee Tower on Darwen Hill
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The view from the tower today isn't up to much. Darwen Moor.
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Great Hill in the distance
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Blackburn and..
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..Darwen below
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Earnsdale Reservoir and the drained Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir
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Jubilee Tower
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Time to head across the moor on the trail of the Witton Weavers Way
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Looking back to Jubilee Tower
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and down on the town of Darwen
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It's so murky that I can barely make out Holcombe Moor in the distance
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Darwen Moor is bleak today as I take the track across its top..
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Jubilee Tower in the distance as I reach the top of Stepback Brook
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At the cairn on Cartridge Hill, the high point of Darwen Moor
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Looking towards Jubilee Tower
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A little bit of Belmont Reservoir is visible and Winter Hill would be behind it if it wasn't for the murk
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Great Hill and Withnell Moor
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Taking the track down to Tockholes Road
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The rest of the photos were taken as I walked through the Tockholes Plantations back to the car park. I think that there's a stark beauty to the bare trees beneath grey skies and the moss covered walls.
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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2022                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2022
    • Walking Diary 2021
    • Walking Diary 2020
    • Walking Diary 2019
    • Walking Diary 2018
    • Walking Diary 2017
    • Walking Diary 2016
    • Walking Diary 2015
    • Walking Diary 2014
    • Walking Diary 2013
    • Walking Diary 2012
    • Walking Diary 2011
    • Walking Diary 2010
    • Walking Diary 2009
    • Walking Diary 2008
  • Lake District Walks
  • Peak District Walks
  • Yorkshire Dales Walks
  • Forest of Bowland, Pendle & West Pennine Moors Walks
  • South Pennines Walks
  • Walks in other areas
  • Links Page