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66<br />
Darwen Moor<br />
by Chris Pearce<br />
Distance: 5 miles Difficulty: Medium<br />
To help those of you who are working hard to get yourself<br />
fit for the new year, we headed out to Tockholes for a walk<br />
that is sure to get anyone’s cardiovascular system racing.<br />
At just over five miles, this Darwen Moor walk dips into<br />
the area around Higher Roddlesworth Reservoir, levels<br />
out at Earnsdale Reservoir before the climb to Darwen<br />
Moor, and enjoyed wonderful views across Lancashire.<br />
We start at the car park next to Vaughns Country<br />
Café at the foot of the Moor (BB3 0PA). Please<br />
make sure you use the rear of car park, which<br />
is for the use of walkers, rather than the<br />
front of the car park which is for the Royal<br />
Oak pub next door.<br />
Take the public footpath opposite the<br />
pub and head down the steps, passing the<br />
ruins on the right, and carry on downhill<br />
where you’ll see glimpses of Roddlesworth<br />
through the trees. Once you reach the<br />
wooden fence at the bottom, turn<br />
right to walk around the right-hand<br />
side of Roddlesworth.<br />
After 300 yards, you’ll approach a<br />
fork – take the lesser-used uphill path to the right. Follow<br />
this through the woods until you reach the Tockholes<br />
Road. Turn left and follow the road until you reach Fine<br />
Peters Farm. Cross over and go through the gate at the<br />
left-hand side of the farm, following a track.<br />
The track (Dean Lane) starts to climb, affording super<br />
views, and then dips to a crossroad of paths. Carry<br />
straight on down the cobbled path (Donkey Brow)<br />
and this will eventually bring you out at Earnsdale<br />
Reservoir. Follow the path round Earnsdale and<br />
stay on the tarmacked road uphill until you<br />
reach Waterhouse (1897). Carry on in the<br />
same direction for 50 yards and then take a<br />
right turn up the concrete road.<br />
Just before the second bend on the concrete<br />
road, there’s a gap in the safety barrier; go<br />
through the gap and follow the well-defined<br />
path until you come to a gate, set in a drystone<br />
wall. Go through the gate and<br />
follow the path for 150 yards until you<br />
arrive at a wider path. Turn right and go<br />
through the entrance to Darwen Moor.
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