Friday 7th July 2023
Roddlesworth Information Centre, Darwen Moor and Tockholes Woods.
Seventeen walkers started this evening’s walk at Roddlesworth Information Centre and joined a section of the West Pennine Way (WPW) at the back of the café. The route climbed steadily up towards Darwen Moor, and after passing through a kissing gate we left the WPW and turned right and followed a footpath alongside a wooded valley containing a series of waterfalls. The brook is known locally as Step Back Brook, with local speculation that it was where Cromwell halted his army.
Heading up to Darwen Moor
Top of the path
At the top of the path, we turned right and headed for Cartridge Hill (402m) where on this glorious summers evening we had a 360 degree view of the West Pennines, plus in the distance we could see, Morcombe Bay, with the Lakeland Hills beyond, the Ribble estuary, and to the east we had views over to Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-Gent.
Cartridge Hill
After spending time admiring the scenery, we started our decent off the moor and headed to Roddlesworth Lane, which we crossed and joined a footpath into Tockholes Plantation. Our next stop was at the ruins of Hollinshead Hall, where only the Well House is still standing. Records show that there was a manor house on this site from 1380, when John de Radcliffe had the house built. The most recent owner was a Darwin mill owner, named John Shorrock. Towards the end of the 19th century the hall fell into disrepair and eventually was bought by Liverpool Corporation Waterworks.
The Well House
The well
Leaving Hollinshead Hall ruins
From the ruins of Hollinshead Hall we joined another section of the WPW and made our way through Tockholes Plantation back to Roddlesworth having covered five sunny miles.
Tockholes Plantation
Roddlesworth