PHOTO GALLERY: Shake off those festive cobwebs by trying out one of these Lancashire walks

Well, we have put together a list of nine place you can blow away the cobwebs complete with a guide of how to get there....

Here are the links...

• Darwen Tower

1. Turn left out of the car park then left to the start of Hollinshead Terrace. The little terrace row was built for the cotton mill that once stood on what is now the car park. Turn right at the start of the houses to go through a gate and follow a stone track gradually uphill to another gate. 
Continue straight ahead through the trees to the junction of tracks at the sign for Darwen Moor where the track swings left and doubles back on itself. The stream below it is known as the Stepback Brook. Legend has it that Cromwell told his troops to ‘Step Back!’ here in readiness for a skirmish in Tockholes village in the valley below.
2. Swing left then cross the stile to take the steep steps on the right. These wind up the hillside, swing right, and the track continues diagonally climbing the steep sided hillside to reach a bench and another junction of tracks. Turn left along the adjoining track and follow the ridge path that soon swings right and follows the northern edge of the moor all the way to the tower, which is at first hidden from view. The Tower was built from locally quarried stone in 1897. It gives extensive views in all directions, particularly if you climb to the top, including Holcombe Moor, Winter Hill, Bowland, Blackpool Tower and the Ribble Estuary.
3. Continue the walk by heading down the path on the north side of the moor towards Blackburn. Keep to the left fork and the track soon swings steeply left downhill to reach a gate at the bottom of the moor. Pass through the gate then turn left through a stile/gateway, crossing a field straight ahead to join a reservoir road. Turn right along this and it drops to another track in front of a stone Waterman’s Cottage built by Darwen Corporation Waterworks.
4. Turn left along this adjoining track going through a gateway. Keep to the left forking track and you follow it gradually uphill, passing a farm on the left hand side, back to the Stepback Brook where it bends sharp right again under trees. Go straight ahead again at the gate and simply retrace your steps again downhill along the stone track back to the car park.

• Brinscall

1. At the road junction opposite the Hare & Hounds pub join the pavement of Dole Lane and follow it gradually uphill. Keep to it as it bends sharp right and soon starts to drop down towards Withnell village.
Cross over with care on the bend and join the first adjoining lane on the left hand side signed as Twistmoor Lane. Follow this lane, past a quarry on the left, all the way down into Brinscall.
It reaches houses and the junction between Butterworth Brow and Well Lane.
2. Turn left up Well Lane. Follow the lane uphill for about ¼ mile until access gates are reached on the right hand side at the edge of a woodland.
Turn right and go through the gate to immediately cross a bridge over a stream. A track now leads through the woodland. 
Just keep to the main track around the hillside for the next mile, it eventually drops downhill to a gate and stile at the other side of the plantation.
3. Cross the stile and cross over the goit, then turning right through the access point to follow the path along the waterway with the goit on your immediate right. 
This is now followed straight ahead for the next mile back towards Brinscall Lodge and the children's play area. Go through the gate of the playground to join the road at the junction. 
You have to leave the goit here as it is fenced in over to your right.
4. Walk straight ahead crossing over to join the pavement of the road on the opposite side to the fence. After passing the row of bungalows on the left you can go through a wooden gate and join a path that then turns right and follows the route of the old railway line. 
Keep to this, past a fishing pond on the left and go through the next gate keeping on the old line, now a nature reserve. The path passes under bridges and can be followed all the way back to the old Withnell station.
5. Go through a gate and you join the A675 Bolton Road at the northern end of Abbey Village. 
Simply turn right on the main road and follow the pavement past the houses to return to the Hare and Hounds pub.

• Pendle

1. Start at the track that begins at the cattle grid, signed with a wooden post, ‘Footpath and Concessionary Bridleway to Sabden’. Keep to this track which keeps level, meandering along the hillside, ignoring tracks climbing to the left. The track passes another wooden signpost, for Craggs and Sabden, at a path junction. Just go straight ahead here to a gate/kissing gate in a wall.
2. The path forks into two here. Take the left fork running along the edge of a field with a wall on the immediate left. The track climbs gradually uphill above Churn Clough Reservoir down to the right. Pass through more gates, cross a stream, and the track leads to the edge of an old plantation on the right. Cross another clough and turn sharp left uphill between the side of the stream gully (on the left) and a fenced plantation (on the right).
3. A short steep section soon brings the crags of Deerstones into view straight ahead on the skyline. You can divert right if you want to explore the boulder field at the bottom of the crag and look for the devil’s footprints. But to continue the walk keep to the obvious path across the moor and walk uphill to the ridge top immediately to the left of Deerstones crag.
4. From the ridge you drop down diagonally left along the path leading to a kissing gate in the wall boundary. Go through the gate and continue straight ahead across the open moor to pick up the wide, well-used track on the ridge top which leads from the Nick quarries to Pendle Hill summit. You are now on the spur of Apronful Hill and have a good view to Pendleton and Clitheroe Castle below. Turn left and follow this ridge top track back to the Nick of Pendle road. Turn left at the road and drop downhill if you are parked by the cattle grid.
START: Nick of Pendle road. Car park by the cattle grid, lower down from the quarry. There are lots of roadside car parking spaces on this stretch of road from the top of the hill down towards Sabden village.
DISTANCE: 4 miles (allow 2 hours)

• Wiswell

1. At the car park entrance facing the road junction join the path on the left that starts at a gate/stile. The path runs up the left boundary of the golf course along the edge of the wood. It soon leaves the golf course on the left by crossing a footbridge. 
Follow the waymarked stiles across fields, climbing quite steeply uphill alongside a fence to reach a stile in a wall corner at the top of the hill. Cross this then a stile on the right to follow a path keeping the house and garden of Clerk Hill on the right. 
The path crosses another stile leading to the driveway to the house. Turn left along this to join a lane.
2. Turn left along the lane and follow it gradually uphill. There is a view over to the right to the Sabden Valley and Padiham Heights. 
After cottages are reached on the right, turn left along a signed footpath which goes through a gate and keeps a wall on the left. 
This climbs steeply up
to the top of Wiswell Moor, although the climb can be made easier by following the old quarry track which winds its way uphill this is an open access area. At the top of the hill with the mast on the right there is a great view of the Ribble Valley and Bowland.
3. To continue the walk drop down towards the Ribble Valley side and look for a stile in the right wall corner. 
Cross this stile and with a brook and wall on the immediate left the path drops quickly downhill and swings right to cross another stream in a woodland. word of caution, the path can be boggy in places here, and given the recent heavy rain probably will be. 
Continue downhill and cross another stile to join an access track. Just continue downhill to reach the lane in Wiswell village.
4. Turn left along the lane (Pendleton Road) and pass the old village school on the right. When the phone box and bench are reached on the left, turn left up the adjoining lane (Moor Side Lane). 
This climbs quite steeply to a farm. Turn right behind the farm and go through a metal gate. When the stony track swings left leave it via a stile/gate into a field on the right. The path crosses the field and enters a woodland at a ladder stile/gate.
5. Follow the track straight through the woodland. This can be boggy after wet weather. On the far side of the wood follow a field edge path with the boundary fence on the left and there is a good view down to Whalley and Spring Wood. 
When the fence line turns left drop down to the right to reach the stile in the field corner encountered earlier in the walk. Cross this and retrace your steps downhill, crossing the footbridge and following the edge of the golf course back to Spring Wood
 

• Anglezarke

1. Walk out of the entrance of Anglezarke car park and drop down the access lane to meet the road hugging the shoreline of the reservoir. Walk straight ahead along this road with the reservoir on the immediate right. 
Turn right and follow the road over the dam between Anglezarke and the Upper Rivington Reservoir. On the far side of the reservoir join a signed footpath, this leads alongside a field edge next to a wall with the reservoir on the right. The path skirts woodland then swings sharp left skirting around the embankment to cross a stile and join a lane (Charnock Back Lane).
2. Turn right along the lane and follow it for approximately third of a mile until a waymarked bridleway is reached on the right pointing down the access lane to Kay’s Farm. Turn right here and head for the farm but turn left along the fenced bridleway just before the buildings are reached. 
The wide track (Heapey Fold Lane) is now followed straight ahead for the next 1½ miles all the way to Cliffs Farm on the lane to Heapey. It climbs gradually to the lower slopes of Healey Nab over to the left and gives a good view across to Rivington Pike and Great Hill. it then drops down to meet Higher House Lane.
3. Turn right along the lane and follow it downhill to the top of Anglezarke, crossing over the Goit and passing waterworks cottages on the right. Shortly after crossing the Goit do not follow the lane uphill but join the path on the right in woodland. This takes you above the shoreline of the reservoir heading back in the direction of the car park, the reservoir now being on your right.
The path follows the contours of the hillside, crosses a stream and climbs to the corner of High Bullough Reservoir.
4. Keep this small reservoir on the left and continue straight ahead, the meandering track drops to woodland again and keeps Anglezarke on the right. A track on the left provides a shortcut through a quarry and leads back to the car park, alternatively just keep to the shoreline path to soon return to the car park.

• Entwistle

1. Walk out of the the entrance to Turton Tower car park and turn right crossing the bridge over the railway. Continue straight ahead gradually uphill along the access road. Keep to this as it swings right and follow it for the next mile past Clough House Farm on the right. 
There are good views right to Edgworth and the Upper Bradshaw Valley. Near to the point when the access road eventually meets the B6391 Greens Arms Road you can turn right along a bridleway path that leads back to the road.
2. Cross this and go through the gate opposite. Follow the track downhill to the corner of a car park. Bear right and steps on the left go down to the access road leading to the dam of Entwistle Reservoir. At the corner of the dam go through the gate on the left and join the shoreline path with the reservoir on the immediate right. 
Follow this path for a mile to the top end of the reservoir. Ignore the first bridge on the right crossing the inlet but keep going straight ahead to
cross the second upper bridge on the right.
3. On the far side of the bridge go through the gate straight ahead leading into the conifer woodland. The path leads uphill through the trees and drops down to reach Entwistle Reservoir again. 
Turn left along the shoreline path which now skirts around the top of the reservoir and swings right now with the water on the right. The rows of decorated Xmas trees are soon passed on the left. 
Keep walking straight ahead to the gate at the dam at the bottom end of the reservoir. Turn left after the gate and follow the access road which soon leads to the Strawbury Duck Inn and Entwistle train station.
4. Turn right along the lane passing Entwistle Station on the left. This crosses the railway line and swings right downhill. Keep to the lane as it swings left to a kissing gate on the right at the bottom of the hill. 
Go through this and follow the path leading along the right hand side of Wayoh Reservoir. This soon swings left over the causeway. 
Walk straight ahead on the far side of the causeway with the reservoir on the left. After about ½ mile you reach the gate at the corner of Wayoh dam.
5. Turn right along the access road and go through gates to reach the B6391 Greens Arms Road. Turn left and follow it to Turton village. Cross over and turn right along the path down the right hand side of the Chetham Arms pub. 
Walk straight ahead along the cobbled lane leading to the level crossing. Just before the railway crossing turn left and join a path below houses. This leads through woodland back to Turton Tower car park.
 

• Witton Park

1. From the main car park pick up the path that starts to the left of the refreshment kiosk on the left hand side of the main drive. Follow this path towards the river and soon cross a footbridge over the River Darwen on your left. 
Turn right on the other side of the bridge and continue straight ahead along the cycleway with the river now on the right. The river is kept on the right
for the next mile. Simply follow the track straight ahead, passing two bridges on the right, to eventually join the older Butler’s Bridge over the river next to the lane, Tower Road.
2. Turn right across the old bridge and join the lane. Follow this straight ahead through the gates and it leads uphill to Pleasington Cemetery. At a crossroads by a shelter, where the graves begin, turn left and skirt right around the northern edge of the cemetery to reach a cattle grid and gateway. 
Go straight ahead from here along the track through fields heading for the woodland of Billinge Hill. This leads through a gate and continues uphill to reach another cattle grid. At this top cattle grid there are good views looking south towards Darwen.
3. Continue straight on beyond the cattle grid following the farm lane for the next half mile. The stone boundary wall enclosing Billinge Hill is kept on your left. The lane eventually reaches a T-junction on a residential road. Turn right then first left into Billinge Avenue. At the far end of this residential street you turn right and follow the pavement of Buncer Lane downhill. Ignore the signed footpath half way down on the right but continue down to the pedestrian crossing at the entrance to Witton School car park.
4. Turn right here and follow the cycleway straight ahead past an access barrier. Keep the school buildings on the left and simply walk downhill to reach the rear of the park pavilion. 
To return to the car park continue straight ahead to the crossroads and then turn left to walk down the main drive leading back to the car park. The pavilion houses a cafe and the Witton Park Cycle Centre.
 

• Turton Tower

1. Walk to the rear of the car park and pick up the path alongside garden fences which drops downhill, goes under the Blackburn-Bolton railway line, crosses a field and then joins leafy Grange Road. 
Turn left along this, following the tree-lined avenue through the gates of the stables at the end.
Go straight ahead between the stable buildings and join the shoreline path with Jumbles Reservoir over to the right. This passes a sailing club on the right and crosses a bridge to reach the end of Horrobin Lane.
2. Turn right and continue along the shoreline path through a small car park.
The path turns left at bollards and continues past cottages to reach the wide bridge at the inlet to Jumbles. Do not cross this but turn left up the steep wooden steps. These lead straight ahead through woodland and then a field edge by a pond to reach an old pillbox overlooking the B6391 Chapeltown Road.
3. Take care crossing this road, then turn left along the pavement to reach the entrance to Turton Tower. Turn right here and follow the drive straight ahead past the car park and Tower on the right.
There are toilets and a cafe here if you wish to stop.
Continue the walk by going straight ahead over the castellated railway bridge.
Follow the access drive uphill and when it swings right leave it on the left at a gate and cattle grid.
Follow this drive through open fields leading uphill towards the solitary house (Torra Barn) on the top of the hill.
Watch out for golfers as the drive leads uphill between fairways. Pass Torra Barn on the left to reach a crossroads of
tracks.
4. Go straight ahead here keeping a pond on the right. The track leads to a gate at the edge of the golf course with a view of Winter Hill and Belmont (hopefully) straight ahead. 
Turn left along the field edge to go through another gate. Turn right here and follow a track leading to residential Cox Green Road.
Turn left and go straight ahead beyond the houses along a Tarmac path overlooking Egerton. This passes a quarry on the left.
Just after the quarry look out for a path on the left leading through scrubby woodland.
5. Join this path running through an area of community tree planting. It reaches a field.
Cross to the adjacent field on the left through an open gateway and keep the field boundary on the right.
The path leads to the Last Drop Village.
Walk straight ahead between the shops and exit it at the far end.
Keep going straight ahead and the Tarmac drive continues as a track that soon joins a residential lane.
Turn left along the lane and continue straight ahead along a pedestrian access between some houses.
The path comes out in a cul-de-sac under electricity pylons (Haydock Lane).
Follow the lane downhill to the Chapeltown Road.
Cross this with care, turning left to eventually reach the car park entrance.
 

• Piethorn Valley

1. From the car park entrance turn right and cross the stile by the gate on the right to cross the dam of Ogden Reservoir. On the far side of the dam climb steps to a wall gap. Turn right and follow the track above the reservoir. The path goes through a kissing gate and runs between trees and a brook above the reservoir. At the other end of the woodland you reach a waymarked path junction.
2. Turn right here and cross the brook to climb stone steps. Walk straight ahead between walls and join another track. Turn left here and walk uphill along the track with the little valley down to the left. Keep to this and it eventually turns sharp left through a gate in a wall to join another walled track, Tunshill Lane, at a waymarked crossroads. Looking north there are views of the M62 and Hollingworth Lake from here.
3. Turn right at the crossroads and keep to the walled track past another nearby waymarked junction of paths. The track passes under pylons and becomes a boggy sunken lane. This is the old cross-Pennine packhorse route, the 'Rapes Highway', now also signed as the Rochdale Way and Pennine Bridleway. After ½ mile the track reaches another waymarked path junction between hills. Do not turn left here but bear right along the stone track which soon starts to drop downhill to a plantation and Piethorne Reservoir below. Keep going straight ahead around the top end of the reservoir and the track climbs uphill to a higher track that soon reaches a waymarked track junction.
4. Turn right here along the track that soon runs below the dam of the small Hanging Lees Reservoir. Turn sharp right on the far side of the dam and follow the main track running down the valley. This eventually becomes a tarmac lane passing a row of Victorian cottages and leading back to the car park.