ONLY a few miles north of Belmont, this great local walk starts at the West Pennine Moors information centre at Tockholes and climbs to Darwen Tower -- also known as the Jubilee Tower -- which was erected in 1897 to honour Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

You can climb to the top of the tower and take in the wide panorama which, on a clear day, provides views to Coniston Old Man, Pendle Hill and even Kinder Scout in Derbyshire.

From here, follow the waymarked Witton Weavers Way footpath and head across the boggy plateau of lonely Darwen Moor where miners once walked to work coal pits.

The route then descends to Roddlesworth Woods and the ruins of Hollinshead Hall. This was the former manor house of Tockholes and includes a preserved well-house, once a mystical shrine and reputedly haunted by ghosts.

DISTANCE: 6 miles

START: free car park at the West Pennine Moors Information Centre, Roddlesworth Woods. (OS Grid Ref. 665216). This is situated off the A675 old Preston road just north of Belmont village. Turn right off the A675 about a mile north of Belmont

Reservoir and follow the minor road to Tockholes. The info centre is about 1 miles further on alongside the Royal Arms pub.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Bus/train from Bolton to Darwen. From the A666 you will need to pick up one of the many paths heading west from the town uphill to Darwen Tower (pictured right) and start the walk there. This will add a return distance of approximately three miles to the walk.

Note: the moorland sections of this route can be very boggy so boots are essential. Follow the route description in conjunction with the OS Explorer Map (287) West Pennine Moors.

From the car park pass the info centre and picnic tables and turn left by the bus turning area then immediately left to pick up a bridleway alongside the row of cottages, Hollinshead Terrace. Go through the gate and follow the track that leads gradually uphill to a woodland. The track bends sharp left over a stream and at this point leave it via the stile facing you on the far side of the bend. From here, it is a short but steep climb alongside the fence to another stile at the top of the hill.

Alternatively, after crossing the stile on the bend bear right to follow an easier zig-zag path to the top of the hill. Turn left at the top of the hill and follow the path along the ridge to Darwen Tower. The tower also gives views of Preston, Blackburn and nearby Darwen. You can climb to the top where there is a viewpoint indicator.

At the back of the tower join the distinct path across the moor which is waymarked with a yellow arrow as the Witton Weavers Way. This heads directly south and keep to this path along the edge of the ridge looking down to Darwen for about a mile. It heads for farmhouses and drops to a tarmac access road. Turn right along this road and head uphill. The road kinks sharp left and heads uphill to a private house. Just before the house is reached, leave the road on the left along the waymarked Witton Weavers Way path. Continue for a quarter of a mile along the edge of the ridge until a yellow arrow waymarker indicates a path leading down to a house on the left alongside a wall. Do not miss this but do not join it. Instead, just beyond it, an unsigned path is joined on the right alongside a boggy brook. This path is indicated by a small cairn of stones.

Turn right here and follow the very indistinct path through heather keeping the boggy babbling brook immediately to your right. The path climbs gradually and is soon joined by a fence to the left. It reaches the flat plateau of the open moor. Cross a stile and continue straight ahead with the boundary on your left to reach another stile alongside a track by a newly laid gas pipeline. Turn right and follow the track alongside the pipeline. Go through a gate and continue along the track which bears left to reach the line of the pipeline again by an old Peak and Northern signpost. Go through the gates and continue downhill crossing a stream. Ignore the track leading off to the right but continue downhill to cross a gate and stile and follow the track leading to a waymarker on an old gate post. Turn right here and head towards the road. Avoid a section of road walking by joining the bridleway through a gate on the right just before the road is reached. The bridleway climbs above the road and rejoins it further up at a gate. Cross the road and go directly through the gate on the opposite side signed for Hollinshead Hall. Pass through the ruins of the hall and well house and continue along the main track which bears right and heads uphill to a gate and path junction. Continue straight ahead here along the wide stony bridleway which drops down through woodland to a stream and bridge. Do not cross the bridge but continue almost straight ahead along the woodland path signed for the information centre. At the next path junction take the path signed for the information centre. This leads uphill through trees and eventually rejoins the road opposite the bus stop and car park.