Friday 2nd August 2024
Friday Evening Guided Walks: Sunnyhurst Wood / Darwen Tower
On a cloudy summers evening twenty-six walkers set off from Sunnyhurst Wood Car Park, and after turning left out of the car park entrance, we walked back down the road to the pub, opposite which we turned right to take the uphill track to Darwen Tower. On the climb up we had views over Darwen, including the India Mill chimney, which was the tallest and most expensive in the country when it was completed in 1867. The chimney was originally over 300 feet tall with a cast iron crown. Although this has been dismantled, the chimney still stands at an impressive 289 feet.
Jubilee Tower
At the top of the hill we reached the Grade 2 listed octagonal Jubilee Darwen Tower, which was erected to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, with the foundation laid in 1897 and the Tower opening the following year in 1898. More recently, the Tower underwent restoration work in 2021, reopening in 2022 for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. We were pleased to find that the Tower was open, and we were able to climb the winding staircase to the top to appreciate the misty panoramic views over the moors.
After admiring the views, we then continued to follow the well-marked track to our left, gently descended the hill and following a section of the West Pennine Way (WPW). At the bottom of the path, we then turned right and followed a track which passed Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoir on our left. At the end of the track, we turned sharp left and joined the road that passed Earnsdale Reservoir, again on our left, before turning right through a gate to enter Sunnyhurst Wood.
Earnsdale Reservoir
A helping hand
In the woods
Once in the woods we kept to the right and follow the lower path through the mixed woodland descended to Sunnyhurst Brook, in the valley below. Once at the bottom of the valley we crossed the footbridge, over the brook, where we tuned left and followed the path to the site of the old bandstand.
Bottom of the valley
The bandstand
The lychgate
The climb out of the valley was short but steep and we so arrived at the lychgate where it was just a short stole to either the pub or the car park, having covered 4.5 historic miles.