Pennine Walker, a photographic walking diary

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4th April 2015 - Darwen Moor

Walk Details

Distance walked: 6.7 miles

Total ascent: 1190 ft

OS map used: 287 - West Pennine Moors

Time taken: 4.5 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

There's fine weather forecast for the rest of the Easter weekend. I've decided to stick to doing walks locally, I won't have far to drive and I can leave home at a reasonable time in the morning and get back in time for tea. Plus, if there are any traffic jams on the M6 I won't get stuck in them. Todays destination is Darwen Moor in the West Pennine Moors, somewhere I haven't been to for a couple of years. The weather turned out better than I thought it would, there were some nice sunny spells and with the great visibility it was a lovely day to be up on the moor.

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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Earnsdale Reservoir backed by Pendle Hill as I head downhill from the car park
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The recent fine weather is certainly encouraging the gorse to flower
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On the track up Darwen Hill
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Expanding views as I gain height
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The final approach to the Jubilee Tower
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The trig point is somewhat overwhelmed by its lofty company
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The view from the top of the tower. Winter Hill in the distance beyond Darwen Moor.
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Sunshine on Great Hill
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Looking across Darwen to Haslingden Moor and Holcombe Moor
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Blackburn with Pendle Hill in the distance. I can also clearly make out Ingleborough and Penyghent in the Yorkshire Dales, there's great visibility today.
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and finally looking towards the fells of the Forest of Bowland. Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir below has been drained and the plan is to return it to nature. Obviously, still a work in progress.
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Looking back to the Jubilee Tower as I take..
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..the path of the Witton Weavers Way along the eastern side of Darwen Moor
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Crossing the top of the moor
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A colourful scene as I pass the top of Stepback Brook
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Fantastic views as I leave the track behind and head up Cartridge Hill
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The Forest of Bowland, Yorkshire Dales and Pendle Hill
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Looking out to the coast around the Ribble estuary
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Someone has put some effort into building this handsome cairn
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Cartridge Hill is the highest point of Darwen Moor by just a metre but it does overtop most of the moor by enough to give good all round views. To the northeast, the fells of the Yorkshire Dales and Pendle Hill.
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Zooming in on Whernside and Ingleborough
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To the east, more of Darwen Moor
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To the southeast, through a gap in the moors, the hills of the Peak District can be seen. I could make out the swells of Black Hill, Bleaklow and Kinder Scout.
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Winter Hill to the south
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and finally to the southwest and west are Spitlers Edge and Great Hill on the other side of the Belmont Road
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Walking through the woodland above the River Roddlesworth
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A final shot by the River Roddlesworth before I head up to the car park

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© Alan Kilduff 2016-2022                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  • HOME
  • About this site
  • Walking Diaries
    • Walking Diary 2022
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    • Walking Diary 2018
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    • Walking Diary 2010
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  • Lake District Walks
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