The Witton Weavers Way is a long distance path to the west and south of Blackburn and Darwen. In total it is just over 30 miles long but it us divided into shorter sections between 6 and 9 miles which can easily be accomplished in a day or indeed half a day. The Borough Council has produced a set of leaflets which will help the walker explore this fascinating area rich in wildlife and industrial heritage. [The leaflets are widely available in local tourist information points and libraries.] The walk described here uses part of the Warpers Trail near Entwistle, deep in the West Pennine Moors, and is a straight forward circuit of the attractive reservoirs of Wayhoh and Entwistle Note: Since this walk was posted the Strawbury Duck has closed down.
Time: 1½ hours
Terrain: Very easy shoreline amble with a short climb to Entwistle. Nonetheless waterproofs and suitable footwear are recommended.
Ascent: 80 meters
Map: OS Explorer 287 West Pennine Moors
Start: Batridge Barn Car park, Entwistle and Turton Reservoir. From junction 4 M65, on reaching the A666 turn left into Darwen. Beyond the town in a little under 2 miles, take the B6391 Green Arms Road on the left towards Turton. After 1½ m turn left again into a lane leading down to the car park.
Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette.
Directions: From the car park (either upper or lower) drop down to the south corner of the reservoir and the shoreline track.
Turn left. You are now on a section of the Witton Weavers Way, a recreational path, which in four routes explores the rural and industrial heritage of this part of Lancashire. This section of it is in fact "the Warpers Trail" [Leaflets describing the Witton Weavers Way can be obtained from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Tel: 01254 691239] with the reservoir on your right follow the track.
After 10 minutes the reservoir narrows into a long arm with Fox Hill Plantation on the opposite shore. Here the landscape becomes somewhat reminiscent of a Scottish glen as the way takes you towards steep-sided Yarnsdale. At the end of the reservoir part company with the Witton Weaver Way as you cross the wooden bridge over a feeder stream and turn right.
The path hugs the shore below the densely planted conifers of Fox Hill. The reservoir was built in 1834 as a water supply for the mills and bleach works along Bradshaw Brook further down the valley. Later it was incorporated into the water collection system supplying Bolton. After an inlet heralded by "The Wader" an ornamental piece of artwork in the shape of a heron,
the route reaches the widest expanse of the reservoir
and then, in 5 minutes turns right close to a memorial bench.
170m after this turn look for a path on the left going up through the trees. This path is not sign posted and is easily missed.
A moment of decision has arrived. The walk can be curtailed by continuing along the shore and turning right onto a service road as it crosses the dam end of the reservoir. This will quickly return you to the car park. However if you still have room for refreshment after the excesses of Christmas, then take this path on the left. It rises to a more substantial track where you are briefly reunited with the Witton Weavers Way on what is called Edge Lane.
More importantly you will arrive at the Strawbury Duck.
This free house, once called the Station Hotel, offers a wide selection of pub grub and has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. [It also marks the alternative start for walkers arriving by train.]
To return to the reservoir you can either retrace your steps down Edge Lane, or take the lane leading behind the pub (Overshores Road) and puts you on a track that descends past a camping barn to the service road across the dam. If you still have calories to burn you can extend the walk by completing a circuit of nearby Wayoh reservoir. (An extra 2 ½ miles or 4 Km, allow 1 hour). Cross the railway bridge and follow the road as it swings right. In a little over 50m take a footpath on the left leading downhill to woods. Keep on this path and soon you will come to the north end of Wayoh reservoir. From here you can either complete a circuit or else once on its western side take a more direct route to the car park by following a concessionary path leading beneath a railway viaduct.
Reproduced with kind permission of The Blackpool Gazette