Darwen Tower Walk 1

THE VIEW FROM THE TOWER

To the south nearby are Winter Hill (1,498 ft) with its TV and radio masts and also Great Hill, these merge with the distant Snowdonia and Great Orme’s Head, with the Irish Sea beyond. Out at sea an exploratory oilrig is clearly visible, and on a clear day the Isle of Man can be seen. Further along the coast Southport, Preston and the Ribble Estuary, Blackpool and its Tower lead to the River Lune and Black Combe in Cumbria. Directly below you can see the local features of Earnsdale and Sunnyhurst Hey Reservoirs, then Sunnyhurst Wood, Darwen golf course, Hoghton Tower and the densely wooded Billinge Hill. The hills of the Lake District beyond grace the northern skyline and join the Forest of Bowland and the Yorkshire Dales, where the three giants, Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent tower beyond Pendle and the Ribble Valley. The Hills of Rochdale and the nearer Holcombe with its Peel Tower are framed by the south Pennines of Yorkshire which join the Derbyshire Peak District to complete the panoramic view. A splendid view of Darwen can also be obtained. Note the 300 foot India Mill Chimney which was modelled on the style of a Venetian campanile. Taking 14 years to complete at a cost of £14,000 it was opened in 1868. In recent years peregrine falcons have successfully nested on the chimney.