Start:

Witton Country Park. Car park near the main entrance. From junction 3 M65 take A674 towards Blackburn. Follow it as it passes through Feniscowles and Cherry Tree. Just after Cherry Tree the road dips down. Witton Park is on the left opposite a large factory.

Factfile: Distance:
               Time:
                Summary: Mainly easy. At this time of year some sections will be very muddy.
                Map: OS Explorer 287 West Pennine moors

Map by kind permission of the Blackpool Gazette

Directions:From the car park follow signs for the Visitors Centre on the edge of Witton Wood.

 There is plenty to distract en route including two children's playgrounds - one of which is the more adventurous kind. The Centre is well worth a look with craft exhibitions and photographic displays.

From the centre you need to follow signs for the Site of Witton Hall. There is little left to suggest the once grand house that stood there - a clearing in the wood and a few stone remnants.

Keep ahead towards pasture and then bear left through trees to reach a path on the perimeter of large parkland.

Almost immediately after reaching it turn right into Crow Wood.

250m into the wood bear left up a flight of steps when the path bends to the right.

Follow the path as it skirts the edge of meadows, crosses a farm drive

and then brings you to a lane at the base of Billinge Hill.Cross the lane and enter Billinge Wood by way of a short coverway in the wall.

 Bear right and on meeting a wider track turn left.

The next objective is the top of the hill which can be gained by any likely looking path leading upwards on your right. There is a viewpoint adorned with a bench for walkers and a noticeboard for mountain bikers and an interesting plaque.

Rejoin the main track about 50m behind the viewpoint turn left and begin to descend in the general direction from whence you came. At a bridleway sign bear right

 

and at the next junction turn left.

This will bring you to a car park.

Now on the Witton Weavers Way cross a stile into pastureland and walk up to the top of a brow.

This modest unnamed hill is an even better viewpoint than Billinge Hill. Indeed we would argue it is one of the finest in the county.

Keep ahead on the Witton Weaver's Way as it drops to a stile. Cross this traversing the next field to a hedge on the left.

Over another stile follow the path to a lane near a property. Turn left onto a track and then immediately right onto a public footpath and enter a wood.

The Witton Weavers Way soon branches off right towards Hoghton Bottoms but you keep straight ahead on a gentle descent that will bring you to a stile on the edge of the wood.

 You now cross an enormous field on down a gentle slope to Pleasington Old Hall about 500m away.

 If the weather is clear aim for Darwen Tower to the south. After passing a pond on your right the buildings close to the hall should become more obvious. As you near the hall the path drops into a dell

and after a stile

reaches a tarmac lane. (Old Hall Lane) 

 Turn right and follow the lane to its junction with Pleasington Lane. Turn left and soon pass the impressive Priory.

Immediately after the church turn left on a path that reunites you with the Witton Weavers Way

and leads back to the vast expanse of Witton Country Park's playing fields.

Printer friendly version