The wilds of Turton Moor

We gave Roddlesworth a rest yesterday and decided instead to take a blustery trip around Turton Moor. The walk was a wild one, with rarely a soul in site and only the faintest of footpaths at times. At all times though, we were only a short walk from either the well trodden path that marks the Witton Weavers Way or the roads leading from Cadshaw to Belmont.

Our walk began at the United Utilities Car Park at Slipper Lowe, Roddlesworth Woods. Crossing the road, we took the path through fields signed "Lions Den" to the well trodden path leading steeply upwards between Darwen Moor and Turton Moor. The views from the top towards Winter Hill and the Lancashire coast to the west, and to the Pennine moors in the east, were spectacular.

Descending towards Cadshaw, we crossed over a stile on the right of the path, over a new stretch of fencing on to open moorland. Our route followed a faint path alongside the fence and through a number of ruined farmsteads, before we caught fleeting glimpses of Entwistle Reservoir through the wooded valley below.

We continued around Turton Moor, passing close to Charters Moss Plantion, before rejoining the Witton Weavers Way, and a good track, near to Pasture House Farm. The track led us back above Belmont Reservoir and back to our starting point.

Almost all of the walk crosses Access Land and consequently the dog was on the lead throughout. He wasn't bothered though, and was suitably tired by the end. The walk took us about an hour and a half, and involved several stiles over which I had to lift the dog. Not the greatest dog walk in the world but enjoyable for Dogs Dad none the less.

Click here for a rather featureless Google map. You will need an OS map, and a compass if you're undertaking this in bad weather.

Doggy rating 5/10