{"id":1008549,"date":"2024-03-28T20:55:43","date_gmt":"2024-03-28T20:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1008549"},"modified":"2024-03-28T23:05:35","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T23:05:35","slug":"river-darwen-and-billinge-hill-nr-blackburn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.half-daywalker.com\/?p=1008549","title":{"rendered":"River Darwen And Billinge Hill, Nr Blackburn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I was anticipating a window of dry weather today for about 3 hours from mid-morning, so planned to head north on the M60, M61 and M65.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As it turned out, the forecast was accurate, and a beautiful morning gave way to heavy rain, fortunately 10 minutes into my drive home!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a 50 minute drive from Cheadle Hulme to Witton Country Park, west of Blackburn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is 8.5 miles long, with 850feet of ascent, and it took about 3 hours 45 minutes, plus a quarter hour for lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today this would have been a great walk for taking the dog, as most of the field sections were free of livestock. There are some road sections, but plenty of scope for running and exploring off the lead, particularly at the start and end of the walk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I walked in a clockwise direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walk is on OS Explorer Map 287 .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I parked at Witton Country Park car park (\u00a32 all day parking). Postcode BB2 2TS, What 3 Words \/\/\/stops.shunts.guess. There are public toilets at the sports centre adjacent to the car park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Witton Park To Pleasington<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A proper old fashioned funfair was a setting up for Easter as I left the car park to follow the River Darwen alongside extensive playing fields. I had not known the River Darwen at all before today. I must say it is a rather magnificent feature!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There are several bridges and at least 10 football pitches along here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After Butler’s Bridge I left the river, taking a fenced path passes between fields. I passed a handsome tall church and into upmarket suburban Pleasington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The village is blessed with a station, a pub and a golf club!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The road heads down, past a deliberately sculptural tractor to the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pleasington To Hoghton Bottoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The route now joins the main A674. Yes, it’s a main road, but I hardly noticed the traffic. I was enjoying splendid views down to the river as it ran along to my right, with interesting derelict old mill structures dotted along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After a terrace of houses, I took a track to the right, where a single goat was tethered in a small fenced area. It looked happy enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At Hillock Farm I caught sight of Billinge Hill, which I would ascend later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Soon, I enter a woodland which descends down to the riverside. It’s pretty muddy as the decaying leaf litter is mixed with the heavy recent rains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The river is delightful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The path hugs the river. The fields were empty, both of livestock and any human activity. I disturbed a pair of goosanders and three roe deer which were grazing in the woods on the opposite bank. Again, some of the paths were tricky to negotiate!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As I progressed, the wide valley narrowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It then became a gorge, at the head of which is a magnificent weir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the bottom of the gorge that Hoghton Bottoms viaduct completed the scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It was a beautiful sunny morning as I joined the road beyond the gorge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the road junction, someone was hoping for a bird festival. Very artistic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Returning to the river, a footbridge took me across. To my side I noticed the ford. Only a tractor could cross here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Time For Lunch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The path edged round a field and returned for a last look at the River Darwin, where there was a perfect spot for a quiet lunch, disturbed only by a kingfisher, and an excitable pair of dippers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The path headed up the side of the wooded river valley. I spotted treecreeper hunting on the slender trunks here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The wood had a few spots of deep mud that could be skirted round at high level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next was an uphill slog in a very wet sheep pasture. I tried the next field (marked Witton Weavers Way on the map). It was equally very wet, and not much fun. I could see the route continued over fields, uphill, and it looked a slog. I decided to alter my route. So I returned to the road and walked up it. It was very quiet, and afforded views to the northwest, to Blackpool and the distant Lakeland fells. Due north was Pendle Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the pub I passed a sign indicating the road I’d walked up is closed beyond where I’d joined it, hence it being so quiet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pub was, however, quite busy. It seemed to be in a competition for ” most northern sounding pub name”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Billinge Hill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A little further on I took a track to the right and rejoined my planned route at Billinge Wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I climbed to the summit, but there’ no promontory, and the trees now obscure much of the view. This plaque on the ground provided a point of interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From the top, and all across the route down, the hill is swamped in rhododendron. There was just a brief glimpse down to Darwin, and over to the monument above that I’d visited a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Otherwise, it was just rhododendrons amongst older tall trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At the bottom , I crossed a road, then another two wet fields, then entered a wood, where currently, the native trees are holding on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Continuing down, I was nearing civilisation where there was an impressive array of play equipment for kids of all ages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then I was back at the funfair, almost ready to get going! Waltzers anyone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Well, this is a fantastic walk. The River Darwen is amazing. The section down to Hoghton Bottoms is as lovely as any Peak District dale, and without the tourists! And it’s only 50 minutes away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, some of it was very muddy today, so wait till a little later in the year if you are unsteady, or unsure of your footwear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Finally….<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I noticed in today’s paper that that countryside champion and punk lover Chris Packham is a fan of The Jesus And Mary Chain. I’d just spent my car journeys listening to their new album, Glasgow Eyes. Something quite different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Very good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This track is “Second Of June”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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