Total Distance: 10 Km or 6 miles
Time: 2½ - 3 hours
Terrain:  A strenuous ascent to begin with, then crossing farmland to finish with a woodland walk.

Map

Start: Information Centre, Ryal Fold. From junction 4 M65 follow signs to Blackburn. On reaching A666 turn right towards Blackburn. Soon after the road passes under motorway turn left into Bog Height Road. After a mile turn left at cross roads by Black Bull into Tockholes Road. After two miles you reach the Royal Arms on left. The information centre is just beyond pub, also on left.



1. Ryal Fold to Darwen Tower (2 Km or 1¼ miles: 30 minutes)
 From the car park turn left by the bus stop and follow a bridleway sign to the left of a terrace of stone built cottages.



The bridle way passes through a wooden gate and onto the rough pasture beyond.



Immediately there is a sense of elevation, emphasised by views of Blackburn to the north.



The track dips down into a wedge of woodland before arriving at Darwen Moor. Here the main track goes up ahead but you turn left and immediately cross a stile on the right. Very helpfully stone waymarkers indicate clearly the way to the tower.(At this point the Tower is not in sight)



At first the path is steep, but it soon levels out to provide an airy platform on the edge of the moor with the ground falling sharply away on the left. At the time of writing, the tower is undergoing some restoration work and so is adorned with scaffolding. However this does not seem to prevent access up to the viewing platforms.



Ascent of the 86 foot tower is recommended but, for those of you who suffer from vertigo, the views at its base are still impressive. The India Mill Chimney in Darwen protrudes to the east, while Blackburn sprawls to the north. Away west Preston, Blackpool and the Irish sea can be picked out.

2. Darwen Tower to Tockholes (3 Km or 2 miles: 45 minutes)
From the front of the tower descend by a broad track ahead.



Just beyond a gate and a Welcome sign turn left onto a footpath. After crossing a pasture this will put you on a service road for a reservoir. Turn right and walk down towards a handsome stone building (Water House).



Bear left past the house and where the track divides, take the right fork.



Keep on this as it descends to Earnsdale Reservoir, taking the left fork at the next junction. Taking the walkway above the dam, you reach a junction of paths on the far side. A signpost indicates the way to Tockholes.



Turn left to follow an upward cobbled path enclosed by hedgerows to reach a second junction, where you turn right.



This track brings you to Weasel Farm and then Weasel Lane which brings you to Tockholes Lane. Cross into Long Lane, on tarmac for a while, down the hill to Chapels Lane.



Before you lies the graveyard of the United Reform Chapel – the dead centre of Tockholes.



3. Tockholes to Abbey Village (2 Km or 1¼ miles: 30 minutes)
Turn left into Chapels Lane and follow it past the chapel turning first right and then left. When you reach Old School Lane turn right. (If you pass the Pinfold you have just overshot the junction.) Follow the track down passing converted farm buildings on the right.



Just beyond Winnowing Barn, the route follows a walled path for 200m to reach this stile.



Cross it and turn right in the direction of the waymark arrow. Crossing a wide field a waymark post will assist you in keeping on route.



Another pair of stiles later you come to Red Lea Farm.




Here the obvious route, a farm road, is not a public right of way.



Follow waymark signs into the courtyard and then to the rear of the complex.





Another pair of stiles will put you on a downward path to a footbridge across a stream.



Turn right onto the tarmac track once over the footbridge. This track leads to the southern edge of Abbey Village with the Hare and Hounds on your right.

4. Abbey Village to Ryal Fold (3 Km or 2 miles: 545 minutes)
Turn left as you reach the end of the track onto another that quickly brings you to the first of a trio of reservoirs, to the right of the track.



At its far end follow the track as it bends past a house and drops to a footbridge and ford. Take your pick. Once across the channel bear right through a gate and walk a wooded track until you arrive at the second reservoir. Turn left along its dam wall. Despite its artificial provenance, this stretch of water is particularly attractive – especially in autumn. Follow the track into the woods beyond. The main rule here is to keep forward on the main track with water on your right, easier to achieve in winter. The track descends to the final reservoir and then arrives at a junction. Here keep on the left side of the stream. At the next junction of paths a sign post will indicate the direction to the information centre. Follow it upwards. In a little over 5 minutes you will arrive at Tockholes Lane – directly in front of the Royal Arms. (Recommended)

The Hare and Hounds (Abbey Village)

This is a homely village pub. The large main bar has wood beams, wagon wheel lights and is carpeted.
There are a number of dining tables but it is not one of the modern breed of eateries that make you feel uncomfortable if you are not buying a meal. The bar itself is large with plenty of barstools and there is a pool table. There is also a separate nicely appointed dining room.



This is clearly a pub that caters for both the passing food trade and the local community.
We found the atmosphere welcoming and the service friendly and efficient. There is a quite extensive menu but as it was a cold and windy day we settled for heart warming bacon and egg barms with a side order of chips. We felt we had earned this 'treat' with our mornings walking.
The cask ales in the Hare and Hounds are a delight. We had a choice of Black Sheep Best Bitter (3.8%), Moorhouses Premier Bitter (3.7%) and Timothy Taylor Landlord (4.3%). This was our third visit to the Hare and Hounds and the beer has always been served in excellent condition.