Abbey Village Reservoirs Circular

The walk starts Abbey Village main St A675 (Bolton Road) and follows clockwise circular route via Abbey Village, Rake Brook, Roddlesworth Lower and Higher Reservoirs.

Technical sheet

n°4300824

A Withnell walk posted on 06/11/20 by gfl57. Last update : 25/04/22

Activity: Walking
Distance: 10.12 km
Calculated time: 3h 15
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 130 m
Vertical drop: - 121 m
Highest point: 250 m
Lowest point: 136 m

District: Withnell
Start/End: N 53.700035° / W 2.546554°
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Description

(S/E) Follow the road north to the track heading northeast off the main road. Plenty of parking on the main road in the village. Take track northeast towards farm building. Pass buildings on the west side then upslope to the dam. Cross dam wall and continue upslope to grassland. Footpath heads northeast to the stile near Bradley farm. After stile head northeast to the gate next to the barn.

(1) Head south on track part of Witton Weavers Way. Gateway on Weavers Way, take the path west along the fence to a stile at the junction with next fence. Cross the stile and follow the path along the east of tree line. Take stile down west to stream and cross bridge to track.

(2) Follow farm lane north and then south-west to Hare and Hounds pub. Footpath meets the track. Take track south-west towards the south end of Abbey Village.

(3) Track passes close to Hare and Hounds pub. Take track south-east around the north side of Rake Brook Reservoir before the main road. Lodge by the reservoir. Follow the path around lodge then east over the weir to Roddlesworth Reservoir. Follow the path north along the dam wall.

(4) At the north end of the dam wall follow the track east through wood along the north side of Roddlesworth Reservoir. Follow path south-east along the north side of Higher Roddlesworth Reservoir.

(5) Follow the track south along the west side of the stream. Follow the path south through the wood until reach paved track through the wood, 'Mill Lane'.

(6) Take 'Mill Lane' south to bridge over a stream. The path heads West towards A675, difficult to follow at times. Take road north to Abbeyville farm. Take farm track west to Abbeyville farm between farm buildings then across the field to gate on the west side.

(7) Take ill-defined footpath north-west towards the south end of the wood. Take path north-west along the line of wall to the well-defined track heading north. Take path west to the south end of Quarry. Follow path north-west around the quarry to Twistmoor Lane and head east to Dole Lane.

(8) Take road north back to Hare & Hounds in Abbey Village. Head north through the village back to start.(S/E)

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 161 m - Abbey Village
1 : km 1.18 - alt. 143 m - Bradley Farm
2 : km 2.15 - alt. 145 m - Red Lea
3 : km 2.84 - alt. 171 m - Hare and Hounds
4 : km 3.94 - alt. 173 m - Dam End
5 : km 5.37 - alt. 206 m - South Tip
6 : km 6.33 - alt. 229 m - Mill Lane
7 : km 7.78 - alt. 229 m - Abbey Gate
8 : km 8.87 - alt. 197 m - Dole Lane
S/E : km 10.12 - alt. 161 m - Abbey Village

Useful Information

Food and drink available in Hare and Hounds, Abbey Village.
Parking at start. PR^®6 8BZ

More detailed route info
http://www.graemelinford.com/walks/abbey...

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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Reviews and comments

3.8 / 5

Based on 5 reviews

Clarity of route description
4 / 5

Clarity of route map
3.3 / 5

Walk interest
4.2 / 5

Gillyboots

21 Mar 2022 at 05:05 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : 19/03/22
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

"Abbey Village Reservoirs Circular" the views on this walk were spectacular...
The walk, muddy and wet under foot which is typical of Lancashire and doesn't detracked from the walk experience.
Everyone we met were very friendly, one farmer even took us to meet his the baby lambs... two of triplets. Magical!

bernieshorrock

05 Jul 2021 at 03:53 EDT

Overall rating : 3.5 / 5

Date of walk : 03/07/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : N/A
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Directions were quite confusing and on occasions couldn't follow them. Ended up using Google maps to find our way.

martinwalker64

12 Apr 2021 at 06:33 EDT

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of walk : 11/04/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Walk interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

The directions were bad. Constant use of compass point directions and no reference to any landmarks. I think the author must have made this route up from a map and had never actually physically done the walk! I mean who walks in broad daylight with a compass in there hand for the entire duration. Could do a lot better. My advice would be to find a walk description somewhere else.

phillywal

08 Feb 2021 at 07:32 EST

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 06/02/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Very nice walk, especially with vistas of 4 reservoirs contrasting with woodland, parkland and farmland. Very boggy in places at this time of year. Not too strenuous.

gfl57

25 Jan 2021 at 05:57 EST • Last modified: 25 Jan 2021 at 05:59 EST

Glad you enjoyed the walk, you might want to check out the Withnell, Brinscal walk here which starts from Abbey Village and heads West initially on disused rail track before climbing to give great views over Ribble Valley on a clear day. Some pics of this at www.graemelinford.com /walks plus other walks in the area.

smithy2001uk

25 Jan 2021 at 04:34 EST

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 24/01/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The link to another website, from yours, had what looked like a straight forward route but it wasn’t.
Your info was good and it was a great walk.

Other walks in the area

Withnell, Brinscall

Departure from Withnell (Lancashire)

The first section of the walk follows the disused Lancashire Union Railway from Abbey Village to Brinscall which is now a nature reserve. After Brincall the route follows Goit watercourse before leaving the valley and gradually ascends via Brinscall Hall and Windy Harbour to Snape Heights offering good views over the Ribble Valley, The final section descends back to railtrack offering good open views of Darwen Moor.

Sunnyhurst Wood Darwen

Departure from Tockholes (Lancashire)

The walk starts from Dean Lane off Tockholes Road and follows anticlockwise the circular route via Earnsdale Reservoir, Sunnyhurst Wood and Darwen Golf Course.

Witton Weavers Reelers Trail

Departure from Livesey (Blackburn with Darwen)

The walk starts from Stockclough Lane and follows an anticlockwise circular route via Stanworth Wood, Abbeyvillage and Tockholes.

Jubilee Tower Darwen from Ryal Fold

Departure from Tockholes (Lancashire)

The walk starts from Ryal Fold, Tockholes Road and follows the anticlockwise circular route via Duckshaw Moor, Darwin Tower and Earnsdale Reservoir.

Great Hill from White Coppice

Departure from Heapey (Lancashire)

The walk starts from White Coppice cricket ground and follows the clockwise circular route via Wheelton Moor, Tockholes Plantation and Great Hill.

Witton Park

Departure from Blackburn with Darwen

Walk starts from Witton Park car park and follows anti clockwise circular route via Billinge Wood, Houghton Bottoms and Pleasington.

Rivington Gardens Circular

Departure from Rivington (Lancashire)

A circular walk starting from Rivington Information Center before following the Eastern side of Rivington Reservoir to Liverpool Castle then gently ascending to the site of Rivington Japanese gardens. Descent is via Levers Bridge and Rivington Hall back to start.