Abbey Village - Roddlesworth Reservoirs - Abbey Village

Barry Smith

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Abbey Village - Roddlesworth Reservoirs - Tockholes Plantations - Abbey Village

Starting at the beginning of Abbey Village, on the A675 Bolton to Preston Road (you can start at Slipper Lowe car park if you wish, but this involves a climb at the end of your walk), passing by the first reservoir almost immediately, you get your first view of Darwen Tower (Jubilee Tower) and is the classic photo of the walk (see photo attached to this page). After passing the three reservoirs, in woodland most of the way, you enter Tockholes Plantations, again deep woodland, where exploration beckons. Woodpeckers, treecreepers, sparrowhawks, jays and at dusk and dawn, owls and bats, are among the wildlife that draw the ooohs and aaaahs as you walk.

By river and reservoir and more woodland to finish, taking in part of the Witton Weavers Way, I am sure you will return to one of the finest walks I know of in the Lancashire Pennines.

If you wish to include a visit to Hollinshead Hall, it will extend this walk by 2.5 kilometres, but it is well worth the effort.

Make the hall your first port of call if you start at Slipper Lowe car park, or the visitor centre at Tockholes (signposted at grid ref 664190 on the A675).

This walk is partly suitable for wheelchair users.

England - North England - Lancashire - Pennines

Features

Flowers, Pub, River, Toilets, Wildlife

4/4/2016 - Francine Sagar

A delightful, easy walk (although muddy in places). Dogs can go off-lead (no sheep!). Current directions a bit out of date, but still guessable. Pity the pub was closed today (Monday)

7/25/2014 - Mark Ziprin

Really nice walk. Even better last night in the sun than 2 weeks ago in a storm. Easy to follow and well worth the extra little bit to the Hall and Mill House. Good pub at the end. I think Slipper Lowe car park has been closed for quite a while.

4/7/2014 - Barry Smith

Thank you Paul and Alex, appreciate your comments.

3/6/2014 - paul smith

Really nice work mixture to see. Nice and flat.

12/8/2012 - alec jackson

Very good walk for dogs, no stiles. Lots of people walk their dogs around this area.

11/9/2011 - alec jackson

Just a minor comment following on from previous comment regarding waymark 18. After waymark 17 go past hut on left hand side, waymark 18 just past this. I had a problem at this point finding footpath. What appears to be main path (down hill) goes to outflow from reservoir. Do not go over footbridge but bear to left, round fence and down small embankment to small footpath. Follow footpath along side of outflow towards waymark 20.

7/20/2008 - RICHARD SWIFT

just done this walk in july 2008-lovely walk-must strongly agree with pervious comments in that the walk is NOT suitable for wheelchairs( mr smith- you are misleading people in saying that it is)- also got lost at waymark 18-you have been warned!!! overall though a very pleasant 3 hr walk

11/30/2004 - Barry Smith

If Sheila ended up at the iron bridge and waymarks 4/5 then she was perfectly on course!

10/10/2004 - Sheila Ann White

10/10/04 Sheila Ann White. Just done the walk it is lovely, just got a bit lost at waymark17/18, it wasn't very clear. so came back over the iron bridge above the overflow cobble steps and waymark 4/5.

8/19/2003 - Barry Smith

In reply to your wheelchair comments. Im sorry you did not enjoy my walk! But i must say in defence of the text that the majority of this is navigable by wheelchair. I have seen and talked to wheelchair users on this walk. There is a short stretch with steps and one steepish climb that would be "impossible" but the return journey is just as enjoyable.

7/24/2003 - Stephen E Greenhalgh

I don't know who went around this walk in a wheelchair & announced it "Good for wheelchairs" but I have just returned from trying this walk and it's impossible to get around in an electric chair. Very dissapointing. It's not suitable for any electric chairs.